While ROS inhibitors convey multifactorial effects, the possibility to suppress the observed IL-1ß response by the specific NLRP3-inhibitor MCC950 (33) carries potential treatment options for IPF-AE and other forms of acute respiratory failure such as COVID-19 (60), which remain to be clinically studied. This evidence concerns the gene NLRP3 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.