LUM and acute respiratory distress syndrome: This study sought to determine whether pulmonary lumican levels were associated with lung inflammation, profibrotic responses, and disease severity in ARDS, and, if so, to elucidate the possible role of lumican in the processes of acute inflammation and fibroproliferative repair, using a combination of clinical and in vitro studies and an animal model of acute lung injury (ALI) to explore the underlying mechanisms.