Since there is a strong suspicion that excessive amounts of cytokines create damage due to the extreme inflammatory responses they produce, such as high levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β in the lung parenchyma [10] and increased levels of IL-18 in sepsis-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) [11], we propose that inhibiting the caspase-1 protease might decrease the cytokine storm and ameliorate patient healing. The gene discussed is IL18; the disease is acute respiratory distress syndrome.