Although several chemokines play key roles in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI), the roles of chemokine (C‐X‐C motif) ligand 16 (CXCL16) and its receptor C‐X‐C chemokine receptor type 6 (CXCR6) in ALI pathogenesis remain to be elucidated. The gene discussed is CXCL16; the disease is acute lung injury.