Potential protective effects of imatinib in lung endothelial inflammation induced by LPS plus VILI. In this proposed schema, stimulation of lung endothelial cells (EC) by LPS + VILI results in activation of the Abl kinases and subsequent downstream signaling that includes increased NF-κB activity, upregulation of VCAM-1, release of cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6), and increased pulmonary neutrophil (PMN) recruitment. Imatinib inhibits Abl family kinases to attenuate these effects in vitro and in vivo. Nuc, nucleus.