Fig. 1

Graphics indicating the normal alveolus and ALI/ARDS alveolus. The right alveolus is a schematic representation of the main pathophysiological features of ALI/ARDS. Each therapeutic agent acts through a specific mechanism as indicated and these machineries in detail were reviewed elsewhere [181, 182]. PECAM-1 = platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1, VEGF = vascular endothelial growth factor, PAF-AH = platelet-activating factor acetyl hydrolase