The great prognostic value of IL-6, IL-8 and SP-D, a surfactant protein and product of alveolar epithelial type II cells for ALI/ARDS outcome demonstrates the significance of alveolar epithelial injury and acute inflammation in the pathogenesis of human ALI/ARDS [7], [12], [38], [39] (this work). The gene discussed is CXCL8; the disease is acute respiratory distress syndrome.