Notably, viral-induced ER stress in IPF promotes the E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF5-mediated degradation of stimulator of interferon genes (STING), compromising antiviral defenses and predisposing to acute exacerbations (Qiu et al., 2017; Zhang et al., 2022). The gene discussed is RNF5; the disease is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.