LCN2 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: LCN2 mRNA expression levels in IPF patients negatively correlated with respiratory functions (Figure 1); accordingly, LCN2 BALF levels negatively correlated with patients' respiratory functions (FEV1/FVC, TLCO, and KCO) of a cohort (n=26) of IPF patients (Figure 2), in agreement with a previous study (17).