Another study has demonstrated that the serum levels of matrix metalloproteinases-7, intracellular adhesion molecule-1, and interleukin-8 are potential prognostic indicators for IPF (6), while all of the above biomarkers have not been widely used to predict the prognosis of IPF patients in clinical practice due to the reliability, economic efficiency, and accessibility of these biomarkers. The gene discussed is MMP7; the disease is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.