Through IHC analysis, we found that MMP-7 and RSPO3 were both significantly up-regulated in IPF lung, in particular in hyperplastic alveolar type II (ATII) epithelial cells (Fig 6D), suggesting that RSPO3 may play a regulatory role in MMP-7 expression in IPF. The gene discussed is MMP7; the disease is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.