IL18 and acute respiratory distress syndrome: Apart from the classical proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, γ-IFN and TGF-β, inflammasome-regulated cytokines (such as caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18)[28], IL-17A[29] and endocan[30] are also important mediators of ALI or ARDS.