Background The structures and functions of human organs degenerate obviously in the process of aging. The function reserve of the most senile organs decreases. The old people is susceptible to suffer the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in the elderly (MODSE)by lung infections or injuries. But the mechanism of MODSE induced by pulmonary challenge has not been interpreted clearly. Proteins, the basic substances sustaining for the life phenomena, can translate gene sequences into function. Investigation to changes of proteins in quantity and structures might be helpful to understand the mechanism of MODSE and select the managements. Objective To investigate the changes of lung proteins in elderly rats with acute lung injury (ALI) induced by intratracheal LPS infusion and find clues on how lung triggers MODSE. Methods Twelve SD rats were randomly assigned to two groups. One group was induced into acute lung injury by intratracheal administration of low dose (0.75mg/kg BW) lipopolysaccharide and the other was infused by sterile saline. The differences of the two groups in lung functions and pathologic structures were observed. The lung protein extracts from the two groups were analyzed by 2-DE and MAIDI-TOF-MS. Results (1)Twelve hours after ALI induced LPS, arterial gas analysis showed respiratory function failure type Ⅱ and respiratory acidosis. PaO2 and SaO2 of the subject reduced significantly (P < 0.05). (2)Lung index of the subject increased (0.54±0.04 vs. 0.42±0.02, P<0.01 ). (3)The lungs of the rats with LPS showed pulmonary alveolar congestion, edema, exudation, capillary dilation and inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue. (4)The gels of the control by 2-DE had (730±52) spots and the gels of subject had (706±67) spots with 86% of match rate. (5)By contrasting the gels, the sixteen different spots were found. The thirteen ones of them increased and the other three spots decreased. (6)These spots were analyzed by MALDI-TOF-MS and searched in the protein databank. Eight proteins were identified