The overall purpose of this research is to gain understanding of the basic responses of the
lung to inflammation. Inflammation is the way our bodies react to irritation or injury, and
involves red, warm, and often painful swelling of the affected tissue. "Acute lung injury"
involves a generalized inflammation to the lung that is activated by any of several
conditions: infection, trauma, inhalation of toxic substances, etc. When lung injury is
severe, not enough oxygen can get into the body; this can lead to the need for mechanical
support of breathing (mechanical ventilation), problems with brain, heart or other organ
function, and in some cases, death. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) contributes to the
development of lung inflammation.