It has been reported that C‐C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), chemokine (C‐X‐C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1), CXCL5 and CXCL8 are elevated in the plasma and BAL of patients with ALI.11, 12 In animal models of ALI, chemokine levels in the lungs (eg, CXCL1, CXCL2 and CXCL5) are raised, and inhibitors of chemokines13, 14, 15, 16 or their receptors17 can mitigate injury. Here, CXCL8 is linked to acute respiratory distress syndrome.