The reduction in inflammatory cells by knocking down circEXOC5 was also associated with their decreased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in BALF (Fig 2B), their expressions from isolated macrophages from BALF (Fig 2C and D), and their systemic levels detected in serum (Fig 2E), suggesting that knocking down circEXOC5 was sufficient to inhibit inflammation during ALI development. Here, IL6 is linked to acute respiratory distress syndrome.