Differential gene expression analysis identified top upregulated genes, namely SNORD89, MIR627, MIR320C1, SNORD95, SNORD1C, PTPRD-AS1, SNORD41, MIR3173, ACR, C8ORF49, and top downregulated genes, namely ST8SIA1, LINC00521, WNT2, LPA, C14orf180, TSG1, WDR88, SAG, LINC01134, LOC388553 in the COVID-ARDS group compared to the other lung disease groups combined (IPF alone and IPF with COVID history). Here, ST8SIA1 is linked to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.