Collectively, these data suggest that cholinergic tone modulates nicotinic and muscarinic receptors, and that nicotinic receptors are essential to counteract lung inflammation in a model of ALI, as pharmacological activation of α7 nAChR in VAChT-deficiency mice reduced lung inflammation while increasing α7 nAChR expression and reducing mAChR. This evidence concerns the gene SLC18A3 and acute respiratory distress syndrome.