Moreover, ECM regulators can be used as markers of the proliferative phase of ALI: high expression levels of genes, responsible for the ECM regulation (PTX3 [363,389], TIMP1 [364], TNC [365], MMP8 [366], PLAUR [390], ADAM8 [368]), are associated with increased severity and rapid progression of ALI with different etiologies, including COVID-19 (Table 3). Here, MMP8 is linked to acute respiratory distress syndrome.