As oligomycin A triggers ROS production to enhance PGC-1α expression, we postulated that a PGC-1α activator alone may mimic the beneficial barrier-restorative effects of oligomycin A. Using the PGC-1α activator, ZLN00523, we markedly improved HRV-C15-induced loss of barrier function in all lung donors (Fig. 6d) at 12 h post infection. Here, PPARGC1A is linked to infection.