NLRP3 and acute respiratory distress syndrome: In comparison with the normal control, the mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3, ASC, CASP1 and GSDMD were augmented in LPS-challenged RAW264.7 cells (Figures 9A, B), which were eliminated by QHSG, as the qRT-PCR and western blot analyses demonstrated that treatment of LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells with QHSG at concentrations of 75 μg/mL, 150 μg/mL and 300 μg/mL resulted in significant decline in the mRNA transcriptions and protein translations of NLRP3, ASC, CASP1 and GSDMD in mouse macrophages (Figures 9A, B), consistent with the effectiveness of QHSG on ALI rats.