This thesis evaluates molecular mechanisms involved in acute respiratory distress syndrome and ventilator-induced lung injury. Open-lung ventilation strategies are known to be lung protective. Different molecular biological and immunohistochemical research methods provided discoveries in the lung protective mechanisms induced by open-lung ventilation strategies. The thesis illustrates these scientific findings imbedded in detailed description of the used research methods and basic as well as up-to-date knowledge of acute respiratory distress syndrome, ventilator-induced lung injury, and cell death mechanisms. Coloured figures facilitate the understanding of the findings.