Although our current study was based on the primary ALI and it might have some modified signaling pathways with secondary ALI (systemic inflammation), our findings suggest that HMGB1/PTEN/β-catenin signaling is critical to contribute to the induction of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs in sepsis-induced lung injury. Here, HMGB1 is linked to acute respiratory distress syndrome.