Role of CCR2 and IL-8 in acute lung injury: a new mechanism and therapeutic target.

Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are severe inflammatory lung diseases associated with very high mortality, and are the most common and earliest organ dysfunctions in the development of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. The NIH estimates that more than 4.5 million people suffer from ALI/ARDS per year. Although the American-European Consensus Conference definition has been widely used for approximately 40 years, it still has some limitations that may impact on the conduct of clinical research and management of patients with ALI/ARDS. This article will focus on the role of CC chemokine receptor 2 and IL-8 in the pathogenesis and resolution in ALI/ARDS.