STING1 and pulmonary fibrosis: Based on the above experimental results, we conjecture that, given the role of STING in both antiviral and inhibition of pulmonary fibrosis, STING is used to fight viral infection when the body is infected with a virus, and the corresponding inhibition of inflammation and fibrosis may be compromised, which may lead to an exacerbation of disease progression in AECOPD.