In addition, an anti-integrin-β3 antibody suppressed the inhibitory activity of active hMMP-2 on BLM-induced apoptosis of A549 alveolar epithelial cells, suggesting a role for the integrin-β3/phosphatidylinositol-3′ kinase pathway in the inhibitory activity of MMP-2 in BLM-induced lung fibrosis. This evidence concerns the gene MMP2 and pulmonary fibrosis.