In this study, PQ inhibited the PI3K/Akt/mTOR autophagy signalling pathway (Fig. 4), enhanced Hh signalling by increasing ROS, upregulated Smo and Gli1 protein levels, promoted pro-Fibrin protein expression, and exacerbated PQ-induced lung fibrosis (Fig. 6). Here, GLI1 is linked to pulmonary fibrosis.