RAGE is expressed in epithelial cells, whereas VEGFα, PECAM-1, and CXCL5 are associated with endothelial activation during ARDS (80), linked with the restructuring of the endothelium to facilitate neutrophil adhesion (81, –, 83) and angiogenesis (84, –, 88). This evidence concerns the gene PECAM1 and acute respiratory distress syndrome.