TBK1 and familial dilated cardiomyopathy: In agreement, qRT-PCR analysis revealed that mRNA levels of cGAS, STING, TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), and interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) were considerably elevated in the DCM group relative to controls, but were effectively suppressed by exercise training, and HIIT exerted the strongest inhibitory effect (Figure 6B–E).