Consistently, we also identified a total of 107 differentially-expressed lncRNAs in CF and normal rat hearts, and 24 of them were significantly correlated with ECM-related mRNAs (Itga11, Col2a1, Tnr, Thbs4, Thbs1, Sv2c, Comp), indicating that these lncRNAs may play a role in CF pathogenesis, possibly in TGFβ1 activation and ECM-related manners. Here, TGFB1 is linked to cystic fibrosis.