NLRP3 and acute respiratory distress syndrome: The present study reported that lncRNA MEG3 could sponge miR-7b, and lncRNA MEG3 silencing or overexpression of miR-7b may led to the downregulation of NLRP3, thus reducing the expression levels of IL-18, IL-1β, caspase-1, TNF-α and IL-6, ultimately resulting in the improved LPS-induced ALI.