AQP5 and acute respiratory distress syndrome: In bacterial Sepsis-Associated ALI, endotoxins reduce the expression and increase the degradation of ion channels and water channel proteins in AECs, including ENaC, Na,K-ATPase AQP1, and AQP5, leading to decreased alveolar fluid clearance, increased pulmonary edema, and lung exudation, thus exacerbating bacterial Sepsis-Associated ALI (64, 65).