There are several signal transduction pathways modulating the inflammatory process in ALI/ARDS such as nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB); the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-, leucine-rich repeat, and pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3); mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK); and Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling. This evidence concerns the gene NLRP3 and acute respiratory distress syndrome.