Fig. 5. The cGAS-STING pathway mediated lung epithelial cells autophagy and ferroptosis that were promoted by Fcn B from BLM-induced AMs exosomes.

A, B The expressions of cGAS, STING, and p-STING in lung epithelial cells were detected by Western blot. C The expressions of LC3I, LC3II, Beclin1, ATG7, and p62 in lung epithelial cells were detected by Western blot. D, E The concentrations of MDA, GSH, and Fe²⁺ in lung epithelial cells were detected by biochemical kits. F ROS levels in lung epithelial cells were determined by flow cytometry. G The death rate of lung epithelial cells was determined by an LDH assay kit. H, I The expression of GPX4, SLC7A11, FTH1, FTL1, and NCOA4 in lung epithelial cells was detected by Western blot. The experiment was repeated three times. The data were presented as the mean ± SD. *BLM^si-NC vs. Control, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001; ^#BLM^si-cGAS vs. BLM^si-NC, ^#P < 0.05, ^##P < 0.01, ^###P < 0.001, ^####P < 0.0001; ^$BLM^si-cGAS+Exo^oe-NC vs. BLM^si-cGAS, ^$P < 0.05, ^$$P < 0.01, ^$$$P < 0.001, ^$$$$P < 0.0001; @ BLM^si-cGAS+Exo^oe-Fcnb vs. BLM^si-cGAS+Exo^oe-NC, ^@P < 0.05, ^@@P < 0.01, ^@@@P < 0.001, ^@@@@P < 0.0001.