The differential effects of VEGF165a and VEGF165b on the vascular permeability in addition to those we have previously shown and published on proliferation in HPMEC (also repeated in the scratch experiments) and human alveolar epithelial cells offer a potential paradigm to explain the apparent compartmentalisation of VEGF between the alveolar and vascular space and the apparent disparity of data relating to the role of VEGF in ARDS [5, 6, 12]. Here, VEGFA is linked to acute respiratory distress syndrome.