At ARDS 0 h, levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, i.e. interleukins IL1A, IL2, IL6, IL12 and IL18 (hereafter referred to as IL-1α, IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, IL-18, respectively) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were significantly elevated relative to baseline (Fig. 3A). Here, IL18 is linked to acute respiratory distress syndrome.