Dear Colleagues,

Acute lung injury (ALI) and its more severe form, termed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), are complex clinical syndromes associated with uncontrolled systemic inflammatory response. Resulting microvascular damage prompts a substantial increase in both pulmonary vascular and epithelial permeability. Subsequently, airspaces become flooded with protein-rich edema fluid, leading to acute respiratory failure. The causes of ALI include pulmonary and extrapulmonary infections and serious conditions such as sepsis, pancreatitis, trauma, pneumonia, and aspiration. ALI and ARDS affect approximately 150,000 people in the United States each year, and the mortality of more severe cases remains at 30–50%. Current therapies are primarily supportive and focus on treatment of the underlying condition along with mechanical ventilation and corticosteroid administration. Most of the research into ALI pathogenesis and treatment has evolved around identifying causative and prognostically important biomarkers. The underlying objective has been to find mediators responsible for the development of ALI and progression to ARDS, with the ultimate goal of facilitating the diagnosis of ALI in patients before onset of ARDS. However, prognosis of ALI and ARDS has, so far, only witnessed modest improvements which were almost exclusively based on better supportive care.

This Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences will focus on recent developments in the area of ALI pathogenesis and treatment, including new insights into the mechanisms of and emerging therapies for ALI and ARDS. It will cover a selection of recent research topics and current review articles in the field of ALI and ARDS. Experimental papers, up-to-date review articles, and commentaries are all welcome.

Prof. Anna K. Kurdowska
Guest Editor

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• acute lung injury (ALI)
• acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
• inflammation
• biomarkers
• molecular pathway
• therapeutics