Abstract

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition characterized by severe respiratory failure and widespread inflammation within the lungs. The dysregulated inflammatory response plays a central role in the pathogenesis of ARDS, contributing to alveolar damage, impaired gas exchange, and systemic complications. This abstract provides an overview of the key inflammatory pathways involved in ARDS and explores their therapeutic implications. The inflammatory cascade in ARDS is initiated by the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which recruit and activate immune cells, leading to further amplification of the inflammatory response. Endothelial dysfunction and disruption of the alveolar-capillary barrier ensue, resulting in pulmonary edema and hypoxemia. Targeting inflammatory pathways holds significant promise in the management of ARDS. Strategies such as anti-inflammatory agents, cytokine blockade, neutrophil-targeted therapies, and mesenchymal stem cell therapy aim to modulate the inflammatory response and mitigate lung injury. While challenges remain, understanding and targeting inflammatory pathways offer valuable insights for the development of novel therapeutic interventions to improve outcomes in ARDS patients.