Notably, analysis of the GSE191279 dataset indicated that prolonged exposure of alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) to TGFβ (6 days) resulted in elevated CDK8 mRNA expression, which may provide a mechanistic explanation for the increased CDK8 expression observed in lung fibrosis (Supplementary Figure S11). Here, TGFB1 is linked to pulmonary fibrosis.