Fig. 2: Senescence increases PGE₂ by type II AECs.

a, b Primary type II AECs and AMs were isolated from young and aged C57BL/6 mice and then cultured ex vivo. Cell culture medium was collected after 2 days and analyzed by ELISA for secreted factors. a IL-6 secreted by primary type II AECs in culture. b TNF-α secreted by primary type II AECs in culture. n = 8 for young AEC and n = 6 for Aged AEC. c Primary type II AECs isolated from young and aged C57BL/6 mice were lysed and analyzed for p21 expression by Western blot. n = 6/group. For panels a–c, statistical significance analyzed by Mann–Whitney, error bars represents SEM and each point represents a biological replicate. d Primary type II AECs isolated from young C57BL/6 mice were irradiated with increasing levels of radiation (0, 5, 10, or 15 Gy) to induce senescence. Cell culture medium was collected and analyzed for PGE₂ levels by ELISA. n = 6/group. e Primary type II AECs isolated from young and aged C57BL/6 mice were treated with D&Q (20 nM/5 µM) for 48 h. Cell culture medium was collected and analyzed for PGE₂ by ELISA. PGE₂ levels were normalized to the cellular protein levels of adherent, live type II AECs. n = 7 for Young control, Young D&Q, and Aged control. n = 5 for Aged D&Q. For panels d and e, statistical significance analyzed by ANOVA with Tukey post hoc test, error bars represent SEM and each point represents a biological replicate. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.