Medford and Millar (2006) [52] offer a hypothesis that VEGF has both protective and harmful activity in lungs—VEGF can protect and regenerate the epithelial surface in the case of a lung injury, yet it contributes to the generation of pulmonary edema if disruption of the alveolar–capillary membrane occurs as in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Here, VEGFA is linked to acute respiratory distress syndrome.