DSP and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified DSP (desmoplakin) gene, a type of intercellular junction responsible for maintaining the structural integrity and mechanical stability of the epithelium, as a significant locus associated with IPF (Fingerlin et al., 2013; Mathai et al., 2016; Allen et al., 2017; Tasha E).