This protective effect of ropivacaine was associated with a decrease in LPS-induced Src activation, ICAM-1 expression, and caveolin-1 phosphorylation suggesting that ropivacaine may have significant therapeutic potential for treating pulmonary vascular inflammation and endothelial hyperpermeabilty, thus preventing or tempering the development of ALI. This evidence concerns the gene ICAM1 and acute respiratory distress syndrome.