Fig. 8. A proposed schematic illustrating the mechanism of damage to alveolar epithelial cells induced by NETs in sepsis.

In the course of sepsis, NETs upregulate the expression of METTL3, resulting in increased Sirt1 mRNA m⁶A modification, thus reducing the stability of mRNA. Therefore, SIRT1 protein is decreased, which ultimately contributes to impaired autophagic flux and depressed cell viability.