In summary, we have found that loss of SIRT7, a member of the family of sirtuin youth genes, occurs during LPS- or bleomycin-induced ALI and induces a mesenchymal phenotype in pulmonary endothelial cells, with impaired inflammatory responses to LPS, increased vascular permeability, and loss of cell junction proteins. This evidence concerns the gene SIRT7 and acute respiratory distress syndrome.