The septic patients who develop ARDS during their late course have significantly higher expression levels of BPI (7.27 ± 0.99 vs. 8.33 ± 1.35, p=0.001), OLFM4 (7.42 ± 1.79 vs. 8.88 ± 1.91, p=0.004), LCN2 (8.6 ± 1.25 vs.9.73 ± 1.59, p=0.005), CD24 (5.76 ± 1.16 vs. 6.92 ± 1.86, p=0.007), MMP8 (8.56 ± 2.05 vs. 9.86 ± 2.29, p=0.027) and lower levels of MME (9.42 ± 1.27 vs. 8.29 ± 1.99, p=0.014) than those not developed ARDS. This evidence concerns the gene MMP8 and acute respiratory distress syndrome.