Abstract
Neutrophils play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury, suggesting that neutrophil accumulation should precede acute lung injury. Interleukin 8 (IL-8) is known to be a major stimulant of neutrophil chemotaxis. We investigated the effect of intravenous administration of IL-8 into rabbits to clarify the possible role of IL-8 in acute lung injury. Recombinant IL-8 was administered systemically by a bolus injection in rabbits which were placed on a high frequency oscillation. Arterial blood gas and counts of circulating WBC were analysed sequentially. Rabbits were autopsied to examine the changes in the lung histologically. After IL-8 injection, PaO2 and the count of circulating WBC were decreased rapidly, until the value of PaO2 and circulating WBC nadired 70% and 20% of control, respectively. Histological examination revealed massive accumulation of neutrophil into the lung. PaO2 was recovered within 30 min. and also circulating WBC were increased above the level of control after 30 min. These data demonstrated that IL-8 administration resulted in mild respiratory insufficiency accompanied with prominent circulating WBC decrease due to the accumulation of neutrophil into lung. To generate severe acute respiratory failure observed clinically, the second stimulus may be required to activate neutrophil to damage lung tissues.
Published Version
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