Basal-like cell-CM medium upregulated the secretion of anti-fibrotic HGF by IPF fibroblasts (Figure 3I): IPF fibroblasts (n = 12) in the control medium secreted HGF at a concentration of 13,125 ± 1,679 pg/ml, which was significantly increased to 25,205 ± 2,302 pg/ml HGF after the addition of basal-like cell-CM for 24 h. Here, HGF is linked to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.