After 14 days of BLM treatment, ATII cells from Gas6−/− mice exhibited modifications in EMT markers' mRNA levels caused by BLM, including α-SMA, N-cadherin, and E-cadherin, as well as increases in transcription factors that regulate EMT, including Snai1, Zeb1, and Twist1, when compared to WT control mice (Fig. 7a and b). The gene discussed is ACTA1; the disease is Bloom syndrome.