Severe adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening illness, often associated with multiple organ failure, resulting in a mortality rate of up to 40% in 200,000 critically ill patients in the United States each year. ARDS is characterized by pulmonary edema, severe arterial hypoxia, and reduced carbon dioxide excretion. To date, mortality from ARDS has been significantly reduced with lung-protective mechanical ventilation, while drug treatment has not been effective.