Ten co-upregulated hub genes (GAPDH, MMP8, HGF, MAPK14, LCN2, CD163, ENO1, CD44, ARG1 and GADD45A) and five co-downregulated hub genes (HERC5, IFIT2, IFIT3, RSAD2 and IFIT1) may be considered potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for posttraumatic ARDS. Here, MMP8 is linked to acute respiratory distress syndrome.