The role of MMPs in the pathogenesis of IPF involves the promotion of epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (MMP‐3 and MMP‐7); the increase of lung levels or activity of profibrotic mediators and/or the reduction of antifibrotic stimuli (MMP‐3, MMP‐7, and MMP‐8); the promotion of abnormal epithelial cell migration and other aberrant repair processes (MMP‐3 and MMP‐9); the induction of the switching of lung macrophage phenotypes from the M1 to the M2 subtypes (MMP‐10 and MMP‐28); and the promotion of fibrocyte migration (MMP‐8) [105]. The gene discussed is MMP8; the disease is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.