Pathological Lung Injury Research Articles

Osteoclast inhibitory lectin related protein 2 protects mice from endotoxemia

Objecitv e To investigate the effects of a recombinant protein osteoclast inhibitory lectin related protein 2（ OCILRP2）-Fc on LPS-induced endotoxemia by blocking OCILRP 2 signaling pathway and to in-vestigate the roles of OCILRP2 during inflammation.Methods Real-time PCR was used to detect OCILRP2 ex-pression at mRNA level in RAW264.7cells before and after in vitro stimulation with LPS.A mouse model of en-dotoxemia was established by intraperitoneal injection of BALB /c mice with a median lethal dose of LPS .Two hours prior to LPS treatment, mice were intraperitoneally injected with OCILRP2-Fc, human IgG or PBS, re-spectively .Several parameters including the survival rate of BALB/c mice with and without LPS treatment , spleen weight for arterial hyperemia analyzing , histopathological changes of lung and liver by HE staining , serum levels of inflammatory cytokines （IL-6, IL-12, TNF-αand IFN-γ）by ELISA , NF-κB activity by Western blot, were analyzed .Results Real-time PCR showed that LPS elevated in vitro OCILRP2 expression at mRNA level in macrophages （P〈0.05）.Upon the treatment of OCILRP2-Fc, BALB/c mice suffered from endotoxemia showed obviously increased survival rate , decreased spleen hyperemia , attenuated pathological injury of lung and liver, reduced levels of IL-6, IL-12, TNF-αand IFN-γin serum samples （P 〈0.05） as compared with mice treated with human IgG and PBS .LPS induced NF-κB p65 phosphorylation and IκB degradation were inhibited by OCILRP2-Fc treatment.Conclusion OCILRP2-Fc protects mice from endotoxemia by blocking OCILRP 2 signaling, which suggests that OCILRP2 plays an important role in LPS induced inflammation. Key words: Lipopolysaccharide; Endotoxemia; Osteoclast inhibitory lectin related protein 2; NF-κB

The expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 and caveolin-1 in the lung of acute pancreatitisassociated lung injury rats and the therapeutic role of Qingyitang

Objective To investigate the expression and function of tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 (TNFR-1) and caveolin-1 (Cav-1) in the lung of acute pancreatitis-associated lung injury rats, and to determine the potential role of Qingyitang. Methods Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham operation (SHAM) group, acute lung injury (ALI) group, dexamethasone (DEX) group and Qingyitang (QYT)group. ALI was induced by retrograde injection of deoxycholate into biliopancreatic duct of rats. Blood and lung tissues were drawn after 24 h. Serum amylase, lung wet/dry (W/D) ratio and pathological section were examined to evaluate the degree of lung injury. Immunoradioassay was used to detect serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting were applied to detect the expression levels of TNFR-1 and Cav-1 mRNA and protein respectively. Results The concentration of serum amylase, the W/D ratio, TNF-α (4.82 ± 0.14 vs 2.96 ± 0. 30, P ＜0. 01 ) and the degree of pathological lung injury were obviously increased in ALI rats. The expression of TNFR-1 mRNA was increased in ALI rats (1.29 ±0. 15 vs 0.43 ±0.05,P＜0.01), but Cav-1 mRNA expression was decreased ( 1.14 ±0. 10 vs 2.00 ±0. 10,P ＜0.01 ). The expression of TNFR-1 protein in both lipid rafts and non-lipid rafts was increased, but that of Cav-1 in both of the two fractions was decreased. As compared with ALI rats, the concentration of serum amylase, W/D ratio, TNF-αt ( DEX: 3.79 ± 0. 11,QYT: 3.66 ±0. 10, ALI: 4.82 ±0. 14,P ＜0.01 ) and the degree of pathological lung injury were obviously decreased in DEX and QYT rats. The expression of TNFR-1 mRNA was decreased in both DEX and QYT groups (DEX: 0.48±0.01, QYT: 0.49 ±0.02, ALI: 1.29 ±0. 15,P＜0.01), but that of Cav-1 mRNA was up-regulated (DEX: 1.66 ±0.06, QYT: 1.52 ±0.04, ALI: 1.14 ±0. 10,P＜0.01). The expression of TNFR-1 protein in both lipid rafts and non-lipid rafts was decreased, but that of Cav-1 protein was increased.Conclusion The up-regulated expression of TNF-α/TNFR-1 and the down-regulated expression of Cav-1 suggest that both of them may play an important role in acute pancreatitis-associated lung injury. DEX and QYT may relieve lung injury effectively by regulating the expression of TNFR-1 and Cav-1. Key words: Acute pancreatitis; Acute lung injury; TNFR-1; Caveolin-1

Expression of Cav-1, AQP1 and AQP5 in lung of acute pancreatitis-associated lung injury rats and the therapeutic role of Qingyitang

to investigate the expression and location of caveolin-1 (Cav-1), aquaporin 1 (AQP1) and AQP5 in the lung of acute pancreatitis-associated lung injury rats and to determine the role of these molecules in the pathologic progress and the potential therapeutic mechanisms of Qingyitang. forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham operation (SHAM) group, acute lung injury (ALI) group, dexamethasone (DEX) group and Qingyitang (QYT) group. ALI was induced by reverse injection of deoxycholate into biliopancreatic duct of rats. Blood and lung tissues were collected after 24 h. Serum amylase, lung wet/dry (W/D) ratio and pathological section were detected to evaluate the degree of lung injury. reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was taken to detect the mRNA levels of Cav-1, AQP1 and AQP5. Lipid rafts were prepared for detection of the distribution and expression level of Cav-1, AQP1 and AQP5 proteins by Western blot. the concentration of serum amylase, the value of W/D and the degree of pathological lung injury obviously increased in ALI rats. Cav-1, AQP1 and AQP5 were present in the lung while the mRNA level decreased in ALI rats. Cav-1 appeared mainly in lipid rafts and less in non-lipid rafts. AQP1 was localized to lipid rafts while AQP5 to non-lipid rafts. The localization of these three molecules in the lung of ALI rats did not change compared with SHAM rats while their protein levels decreased. Compared with ALI rats, the concentration of serum amylase, the value of W/D and the degree of pathological lung injury obviously decreased in DEX and QYT rats. The mRNA and the protein expression of Cav-1, AQP1 and AQP5 increased in various degrees by DEX or QYT treatment. Cav-1 and AQP1 are enriched in lipid rafts while AQP5 in non-lipid rafts. The down-regulated expression of these three molecules may play important role in acute pancreatitis-associated lung injury. DEX and QYT may relieve lung injury effectively by up-regulating the expressions of Cav-1, AQP1 and AQP5.

Role of N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptor in Hyperoxia-Induced Lung Injury

Glutamate (Glu) N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is present in the lungs, and NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 attenuates oxidant lung injury. We hypothesized that Glu excitotoxicity may participate in the pathogenesis of hyperoxia-induced lung injury. To determine possible pulmonary protective effects, we administered 0.05 ml/kg MK-801 or saline intraperitoneally daily to neonatal rats exposed to more than 95% oxygen in air. After 7 days, MK-801 decreased the hyperoxia-associated elevation of wet-to-dry lung weight, total leukocyte and neutrophil counts, total protein and lactate dehydroase in BAL fluid, total myeloperoxidase activity, and lung pathological injury. MK-801 inhibited hyperoxia-associated increments in reactive oxygen species production and NF-kappaB production. Hence, NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 ameliorates hyperoxia-induced lung injury in neonatal rats, and is associated with decreased reactive oxygen species and NF-kappaB. We conclude that Glu may play an important role in hyperoxia-induced lung injury by activation of NMDA receptor.

CXCR2 inhibition suppresses hemorrhage-induced priming for acute lung injury in mice.

Polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) extravasation/sequestration in the lung and a dysregulated inflammatory response characterize the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI). Previously, we have shown that hemorrhage (Hem) serves to prime PMN such that subsequent septic challenge [cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)] produces a pathological, inflammatory response and consequent lung injury in mice. Keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC) and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) are murine CXC chemokines found elevated in the lungs and plasma following Hem/CLP and have been reported by others to share a common receptor (CXCR2). Based on these data, we hypothesize that blockade of CXCR2 immediately following Hem would suppress KC and MIP-2 priming of PMN, thereby reducing the inflammatory injury observed following CLP. To assess this, Hem mice (90 min at 35+/-5 mmHg) were randomized to receive 0, 0.4, or 1 mg antileukinate (a hexapeptide inhibitor of CXCRs) in 100 microl phosphate-bufferd saline (PBS)/mouse subcutaneously, immediately following resuscitation (Ringer's lactate-4x drawn blood volume). Twenty-four hours post-Hem, mice were subjected to CLP and killed 24 h later. The results show that blockade of CXCR2 significantly (P<0.05, Tukey's test) reduced PMN influx, lung protein leak, and lung-tissue content of interleukin (IL)-6, KC, and MIP-2 and increased tissue IL-10 levels. Plasma IL-6 was significantly decreased, and IL-10 levels increased in a dose-dependent manner compared with PBS-treated mice. A differential effect was observed in plasma levels of KC and MIP-2. KC showed a significant reduction at the 0.4 mg antileukinate dose. In contrast, plasma MIP-2 was significantly elevated at both doses compared with the PBS-treated controls. Together, these data demonstrate that blockade of CXCR2 signaling attenuates shock-induced priming and ALI observed following Hem and subsequent septic challenge in mice.

Endothelial barrier dysfunction caused by LPS correlates with phosphorylation of HSP27 in vivo.

Lung edema during sepsis is triggered by formation of gaps between endothelial cells followed by macrophage infiltration. Endothelial gap formation has been proposed to involve changes in the structure of the actin filament cytoskeleton. Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is believed to modulate actin filament dynamics or structure, in a manner dependent on its phosphorylation status. We hypothesized that HSP27 may play a role in endothelial gap formation, by affecting actin dependent events in endothelial cells. As there has been no report concerning HSP27 in lung edema in vivo, we examined induction and phosphorylation of HSP27 in lung following LPS injection, as a model of sepsis. In lung, HSP27 mainly localized in capillary endothelial cells of the alveolus, and in smooth muscle cells of pulmonary arteries. HSP27 became significantly more phosphorylated at 3 h after LPS treatment, while the distribution of HSP27 remained unchanged. Pre-treatment with anti-TNFalpha antibody, which has been shown to reduce lung injury, blocked increases in HSP27 phosphorylation at 3 h. HSP27 phosphorylation was also increased in cultured rat pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (RPAEC) by treatment with TNFalpha, LPS, or H2O2. This phosphorylation was blocked by pre-treatment with SB203580, an inhibitor of the upstream kinase, p38 MAP kinase. Increased endothelial permeability caused by H2O2 in vitro was also blocked by SB203580. The amount of actin associated with HSP27 was reduced after treatment with LPS, or H2O2. In summary, HSP27 phosphorylation temporally correlated with LPS induced pathological endothelial cell gap formation in vivo and in a cell culture model system. This is the first report of increased HSP27 phosphorylation associated with pathological lung injury in an animal model of sepsis.

Resuspension of coal and coal/municipal sewage sludge combustion generated fine particles for inhalation health effects studies

Airborne particulate matter (PM) is an important environmental issue because of its association with acute respiratory distress in humans, although the specific particle characteristics that cause lung damage have yet to be identified. Particle size, acid aerosols, water-soluble transition metals (e.g. Cu, Fe, V, Ni and Zn), polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and particle composition are the focus of several popular hypotheses addressing respiratory distress. All of the above mentioned characteristics are contained in PM generated from the combustion of both pulverized coal, and biomass, including dried municipal sewage sludge (MSS). In this investigation, we report results from collaborative interdisciplinary research on the inhalation health risks caused by particles emitted from the co-combustion of municipal sewage sludge (MSS) and coal. A solid particle resuspension system was implemented to resuspend ash particles. Mice were exposed to resuspended coal and MSS/coal ash particles. Mice exposed to MSS/coal ash particulate demonstrated significant increases in lung permeability, a marker of the early stages of pathological lung injury, while the mice exposed to coal-only ash did not. These results show that the composition of particles actually inhaled is important in determining lung damage. Zinc was significantly more concentrated in the MSS/coal ash than coal ash particles and the pH of these particles did not differ significantly. Specifically, an MSS/coal mixture, when burned, emits particles that may cause significantly more lung damage than coal alone, and that consequently, the use of MSS as a ‘green’, CO 2-neutral replacement fuel should be carefully considered.

Effect of astragalus on the endothelin in rats with acute lung injury.

The effect of astragalus on the endothelin in serum and lung of the rats with acute lung injury was studied. The results demonstrated that the concentration of endothelin in the lung of the rats in therapy group was lower than that of the injured rats (64.36 +/- 5.37 ng/L vs 103.32 +/- 4.99 ng/L, P < 0.001), and level of serum endothelin was also lower than that of the injured rats (85.35 ng/L vs 113.35 ng/L, P < 0.01). PaO2, serum SOD, lung coefficient, ratio of lung wet weight/dry weight in two groups were also significantly different (P < 0.01) respectively, and the lung pathological injury in the treatment group were less than that of injury group. So it is concluded that astragalus could inhibit the increase of serum and lung endothelin, thereby playing a protective role in the rats with acute lung injury.

Modulation of bronchial epithelial cell barrier function by in vitro jet propulsion fuel 8 exposure.

The loss of epithelial barrier integrity in bronchial and bronchiolar airways may be an initiating factor in the observed onset of toxicant-induced lung injuries. Acute 1-h inhalation exposures to aerosolized jet propulsion fuel 8 (JP-8) have been shown to induce cellular and morphological indications of pulmonary toxicity that was associated with increased respiratory permeability to 99mTc-DTPA. To address the hypothesis that JP-8 jet fuel-induced lung injury is initiated through a disruption in the airway epithelial barrier function, paracellular mannitol flux of BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelial cells was measured. Incubation of confluent cell cultures with non-cytotoxic concentrations of JP-8 or n-tetradecane (C14), a primary constituent of JP-8, for a 1-h exposure period resulted in dose-dependent increases of paracellular flux. Following exposures of 0.17, 0.33, 0.50, or 0.67 mg/ml, mannitol flux increased above vehicle controls by 10, 14, 29, and 52%, respectively, during a 2-h incubation period immediately after each JP-8 exposure. C14 caused greater mannitol flux increases of 37, 42, 63, and 78%, respectively, following identical exposure conditions. The effect on transepithelial mannitol flux reached a maximum at 12 h and spontaneously reversed to control values over a 48-h recovery period, for both JP-8 and C14 exposure. These data indicate that non-cytotoxic exposures to JP-8 or C14 exert a noxious effect on bronchial epithelial barrier function that may preclude pathological lung injury.