NLRP3 knockout (NLRP3–/–) or wild-type (WT) (C57BL/6) mice in the model group received 10 mg/kg of 200 μL LPS (E. coli O111:B4; Sigma-Aldrich) via intraperitoneal injection to induce ALI.9 (link) The control mice were administered with 200 μL PBS. After 6 or 12 hours, mice were anesthetized. Retro-orbital blood and BALF were collected, and the left lungs were resected. Samples were stored for biochemical, protein or nucleus assays. For histological analysis, blood cells were washed out from the right ventricle by PBS perfusion before lung harvest. The Animal Care and Use Committee of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University approved the experimental procedure in this study (no. 00129136) according to the NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.