Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection leads to the upregulation of EGFR ligands such as heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) and amphiregulin (AREG), and overactivation of EGFR leads to severe lung damage and pulmonary fibrosis (39). This evidence concerns the gene AREG and pulmonary fibrosis.