Plasma Ang-2 concentration is higher in patients with indirect ARDS (e.g., nonpulmonary sepsis) than in those with direct ARDS (e.g., aspiration), likely because plasma Ang-2 reflects endothelial injury, not only at the level of the pulmonary microcirculation, but also the microcirculation of other organs (39). Here, ANGPT2 is linked to acute respiratory distress syndrome.