IRAK1 and acute respiratory distress syndrome: In particular, AM/SM significantly downregulated protein and mRNA expression of TLR-4, IRAK-1, and NF-κB. These results suggest that the effects of AM/SM on LPS-induced ALI are possibly because of its ability to modulate TLR-4 signaling pathways and that this particular method for nourishing Qi and activating blood circulation may be a beneficial treatment for ALI.