Moreover, we pre-transfected NF-κB/p65 siRNA in A549 cells and the data showed that NF-κB/p65 silencing could notably reduce ROS and MDA levels and increase T-AOC, SOD and tGSH (p < 0.05), indicating that NF-κB may attenuate oxidative stress in TNF-a induced ALI (Additional file 2). The gene discussed is RELA; the disease is acute respiratory distress syndrome.