E2F4 and acute respiratory distress syndrome: In conclusion, it was shown that overexpressing p130 or E2F4 increased the retention of mMSCs in the lungs of ARDS mice and promoted the differentiation of mMSCs into AT II, thereby improving lung permeability and pulmonary fibrosis, reducing pulmonary oedema and further contributing to an improved therapeutic effect of mMSCs on ARDS mice.