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. The gene discussed is SRC; the disease is acute respiratory distress syndrome.