For example, RAGE expression is upregulated in lung epithelial cells during ARDS; sRAGE (including esRAGE) is secreted into the BAL and is detectable in the serum, serving as a biomarker for the degree of lung injury and acting as a decoy receptor to downregulate the injurious pulmonary inflammatory response [22, 41, 42]. The gene discussed is AGER; the disease is acute respiratory distress syndrome.