Knockdown of FOXF1 in lung fibroblasts from IPF patients significantly increased the expression of fibrosis associated markers at mRNA levels including ACTA2 and COL1A1 (Fig. 4 F), as well as mRNA level (Fig. 4 F) and cell-surface protein level (Fig. 4 G) of SEMA7A. This evidence concerns the gene ACTA2 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.