Moreover, the results of our research revealed that RA eliminated ROS production and reduced alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis through activating the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway, which was supported by using wortmannin, because in the presence of wortmannin, the RA-mediated protection was blocked. The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.