Proteomics involved in the switch from inflammatory macrophage (M1) to resolving or anti-inflammatory macrophage subtype (M2) was recently described in a human study of ALI/ARDS.15 Hypoxia inducible factor-1 and factor-2 (HIF-1 and HIF-2) and inflammatory factors such as signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated b-cells (NFκB) are important transcription factors involved in macrophage polarisation. The gene discussed is NFKB1; the disease is acute respiratory distress syndrome.