In contrast to the findings in whole lung tissues, our RT-qPCR data confirmed elevated mRNA expression of SLC5A3 and SLC2A13 in IPF lung fibroblast cells, despite no difference in SMIT2 (SLC5A11) mRNA levels between IPF and normal fibroblasts (Fig. 1F). This evidence concerns the gene SLC5A3 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.