IKK may be a therapeutic target for VILI. An IKK inhibitor, IKK 16, can dampen VILI in rats. The beneficial effect of the IKK 16 may be mediated through the inhibition of NF-κB pathway and up-regulation of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2-regulated heme oxygenase 1 through the activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/Akt.