Moreover, further research by the same group revealed that MUC5B was even found to be co-expressed with SFTPC expression in the columnar epithelial cells of abnormal bronchiolar structures as well as the AECII of IPF patients with the rs35705950 variant, but also in normal bronchioles and AECII of healthy subjects with this variant [38]. The gene discussed is MUC5B; the disease is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.