Consistent with our findings, EGFR is expressed and phosphorylated in fibroblasts, alveolar and airway epithelial cells as a key mediator of fibrogenesis48–50 and its inhibitors have been widely used in pulmonary fibrosis,33 renal fibrosis51 and cardiac remodeling.52 Similarly, there are accumulating data that SYK is implicated in the pathogenesis of fibrosis and related kinase inhibitors also show therapeutic potence.21,37,53. This evidence concerns the gene SYK and pulmonary fibrosis.