Altered expression of these miRNA in macrophages (in a similar direction as we observed) has been implicated in lung and liver fibrosis via reduced STAT6 signaling; mir-142-5p targets SOCS1 (a negative regulator of STAT6 phosphorylation), and mir-130a-3p targets the PPAR-g inhibitor [16]. This evidence concerns the gene PPARG and Hepatic fibrosis.