TGF‐β, which promotes excessive collagen production in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, was found to induce the expression of de novo serine synthesis enzymes phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 and phosphoserine phosphatase, as well as the expression of the de novo glycine synthesis enzyme serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2 (SHMT2) in primary lung fibroblasts, which are required for collagen synthesis [50]. This evidence concerns the gene SHMT2 and pulmonary fibrosis.