Our enrichment analysis of DEGs in lung tissues from subjects with sarcoidosis also revealed the network of interaction of HBEGF and NAMPT with MMP-9, a well-known matrix metalloproteinase target in IPF that is strongly associated with lung injury and fibrosis (35) and associated in progressive sarcoidosis with pulmonary infiltrates or fibrosis (44). This evidence concerns the gene HBEGF and fibrosis.