SIV alleviated damage to the lung tissues and increased rat survival in vivo. (A) Hematoxylin eosin staining of lung tissues (magnification, × 200); (B) Lung injury scores in different groups; (C) W/D ratio in lung tissues in different groups; (D) Survival plots for all the experimental rats (n ═ 15 rats per group). Inflammatory cytokines levels in serum (E) TNF-α, (F) IL-1β, and (G) IL-8 were determined using their respective ELISA kits in different groups. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01; #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01; ΔP < 0.05, ΔΔP < 0.01. SIV: Sivelestat sodium; ALI: Acute lung injury; KP: Klebsiella pneumoniae. Ctrl: Control; TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor α; IL: Interleukin; W/D: Wet/dry.