Recent data obtained in human umbilical vein endothelial cells suggest that TNF-α-mediated stimulus-secretion coupling, including NF-kB-1 activation and subsequent proinflammatory IL-1β secretion, is a Ca2+ influx-dependent process [10], but the relevance of these findings to the development of ALI remains unknown. The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is acute respiratory distress syndrome.