Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, a kind of intracellular protein complex activated by a wide spectrum of stimuli such as microbial infection, damaged lysosomes and Ca2+ flux, is reported to be activated in ALI of different types and is thought to be essential in pathogenesis (6–10). This evidence concerns the gene NLRP3 and acute respiratory distress syndrome.