IL1B and acute respiratory distress syndrome: TNF‐α, the first multifunctional cytokine released by monocytes and macrophages stimulated by LPS, elicits the inflammatory cascade and contributes to the process of ALI, often acting synergistically with IL‐1β and IL‐6.35, 45 In the current study, ELISA and RT‐qPCR data revealed that PAF significantly reduced TNF‐α, IL‐1β and IL‐6 expression on the gene and protein levels, and also significantly reduced the PGE2 levels in the lung.