TNF and acute respiratory distress syndrome: Blocking STAT3 activation by small‐molecule STAT3 inhibitor (LLL12) can suppress the expression of IL‐1beta, IL‐6, TNF‐alpha, iNOS, CCL2 and MHC class II in macrophages and inflammatory cells from LPS‐induced ALI mouse model, indicating the pro‐inflammatory function of STAT3.19 It is known that SOCS3 is a negative regulator of STAT3.