We do not have a clear explanation for this finding, but they seem to be specific to the LPS + MV model, because in another model using mechanical ventilation in which WT and lpr mice were exposed to pneumonia virus of mice (PVM) prior to four hours of MV, we found a decrease in caspase-3 activity in the lpr mice [28]. This evidence concerns the gene CASP3 and susceptibility to pneumonia measurement.