An analogous population of cells characterized by the expression of TP63, KRT5, KRT17, LAMB3, LAMC2, VIM, CHD2, FN1, COL1A1, TNC, and HMGA2 and several senescence markers (CDKN1A, CDKN2A, CCND1, CCND2, MDM2, and SERPINE1) accumulates during pulmonary fibrosis in humans. Here, CDKN1A is linked to pulmonary fibrosis.