List of abbreviations
ALI, acute lung injury; ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome; NLRP3, nod-like receptor 3; IL-1β, interleukin 1β; PAMPs, pathogen associated molecular patterns; DAMPs, damage associated molecular patterns; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; ATP, adenosine triphosphate; IKK, IκB kinase; iNOS, inducible NOS; TLR, toll-like receptor; BALF, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; MPO, myeloperoxidase; RT-qPCR, real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR