A recent paper from Amaral’s research group [195] clearly shows that native lung tissue from CF patients have increased transcript levels of epithelial markers, such as those of TJs (occludin and ZO-1), GJs (Cx43, Cx26), and cytokeratin 18 (CK18) as well as have increased mesenchymal marker expression (vimentin) as compared with non-CF tissues. The gene discussed is KRT18; the disease is cystic fibrosis.