Inhalation of a small molecule galectin-3 inhibitor TD139, having a strong affinity to the carbohydrate-binding domain, has been shown to reduce galectin-3 expression in the lungs of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients along with decreased circulating levels of platelet-derived growth factor-BB, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, galectin-3, CCL18, and YKL-40 (125). This evidence concerns the gene LGALS3 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.