The effect of QWZK on ALI may involve the suppression of the TLR4/NF-kB pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, leading to reductions in TLR4, p-IKKα/β, p-IκBα, p-NF-κB, NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1 and ASC expression33. The gene discussed is NLRP3; the disease is acute respiratory distress syndrome.