TIMP2 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: However, TIMP2 expression and function must be further validated in pulmonary diseases as plasma levels of TIMP2 concentrations are reported higher in COPD patients compared to controls [102], and TIMP2 colocalizes with Ki67-positive fibroblasts in IPF patient lungs [100] with similar levels observed in the plasma of IPF and control patients [131].