Fig. 7: Schematic diagram of the mechanism by which HOTAIRM1 delivered by AEC-Exos affects the extracellular matrix remodeling of IPF.

HOTAIRM1 shuttled by Exos from hypoxia-induced AECs in LFs competitively binds to miR-30d-3p and recruits YY1 to upregulate HSF1, thereby promoting extracellular matrix remodeling of IPF.