Among 20 similar signature genes between TB and sarcoidosis (see Fig. 1e, f), we noticed that MMP12 and ADAMDEC1, two previously reported potential pathogenic mediator genes of sarcoidosis24, were over-represented in both TB and sarcoidosis samples, which result was further confirmed by qPCR analysis (Fig. 2h, i). The gene discussed is MMP12; the disease is sarcoidosis.