Data show that ILA may represent an early stage of ILD in some individuals.4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Research participants with ILA, and patients with ILD, can have overlapping genetic risk factors9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and similar but often less severe physiological decrements11,14,15 and histopathologic findings,16 as well as a shared risk of adverse longitudinal outcomes.10 The gene discussed is TNFRSF9; the disease is interstitial lung disease.