IL1B and acute respiratory distress syndrome: In the ALI/ARDS murine model, α-KG inhibited the LPS-induced elevated serum levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-12, as well as the expression of pro-inflammatory genes (IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα) triggered by LPS, while stimulating the expression of M2 marker genes (Arg1 and Mrc1) in the lungs.