Nevertheless, under the condition of a decrease in the AM-to-alveoli ratio, the "self-cleaning" ability of AMs would markedly decrease in inflammatory diseases such as acute pancreatitis, etc. Specifically, in the initial stage of AP-ALI, once the alveolar equilibrium was disturbed, molecules from the collectin family (i.e. SP-A, SP-D and C1q) would facilitate phagocytosis and inflammation by binding the apoptotic cells via calreticulin-CD91 in AMs. This evidence concerns the gene CALR and acute respiratory distress syndrome.