Further analysis of expression data disclosed a set of genes showing broad downregulation in CtsC-KO and AZD7986-treated-WT mice (protocols I-IV) along with documented pathogenic functions in ALI or liver failure, namely cxcl2, mmp9, and angpt2. Whereas Cxcl2 is key to initiation of aforementioned pathogenic inflammation 17, 22, Mmp9 and Angpt2 have critical functions in more distal parts of the inflammatory cascade. Here, CXCL2 is linked to liver failure.