Compositions and methods for preventing or ameliorating tissue damage caused by an inflammatory disorder or pathogenic infections are described. In one aspect, a method for preventing or ameliorating tissue damage caused by an inflammatory disorder or pathogenic infection comprises administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a neuregulin. In another aspect, the composition comprises one or more active agents that: (a) increase expression or activity of a neuregulin; (b) inhibit the expression or activity of CXCL10, STAT3 or HEME; or (c) both (a) and (b).