Table 1 Potential mechanisms for the effect of ulinatistin on ARDS

Acute pancreatitis

Deactivation of the chain reaction of pancreatic enzymes, such as trypsin, α-chymotrypsin, lipase, amylase, elastase and carboxypeptidase [13]

Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome

Suppression of the activation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (e.g. neutrophils), macrophages and platelets [14, 16]

Sepsis

Inhibition of various serine proteases, such as trypsin, thrombin, chymotrypsin, kallikrein, plasmin, elastase and cathepsin [15]

Systemic inflammation

Inhibition of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (e.g. neutrophils) and pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukins (e.g. IL-1, IL-6 and IL-8) [17,18,19]