The severity of ALI, as well as cell type-specific molecular responses, were assessed using functional, immunological, histological and transcriptomic investigations.Telomere damage-mediated senescence in AEII cells resulted in an increase in inflammatory BALF cells and cytokines and a decline in lung function 72 h after LPS exposure, compared to mice without Trf1 deletion in AEII cells. The gene discussed is TERF1; the disease is acute respiratory distress syndrome.