NFE2L2 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: In vitro, cultures of primary lung fibroblasts obtained from controls or IPF patients showed that decreased Nrf2 expression is associated with an increased expression of myofibroblast phenotypes (type I collagen and α-SMA), and the activation of Nrf2 increased antioxidant defenses and decreased the expression of myofibroblast phenotypes [34].