炎症因子在大叶性肺炎患儿支气管肺泡灌洗液及血清中的表达及临床意义

目的:探讨炎症因子在大叶性肺炎患儿支气管肺泡灌洗液及血清中的表达水平及其临床意义。方法:收集2014年6月至2016年6月我院儿科收治的79例大叶性肺炎患儿为病例组,按照临床肺部感染评分(CPIS)分为重度组(n=46)和轻度组(n=33),于同期随机选取30例健康儿童为对照组,采用双抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测各组支气管肺泡灌洗液及血清炎症因子如白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、白细胞介素-8(IL-8)、白细胞介素-17(IL-17)、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)以及高迁移率族蛋白B1(HMGB1)表达水平。结果:重度组、轻度组血清IL-6、IL-8、IL-17、TNF-α及HMGB1水平高于对照组,重度组血清IL-6、IL-8、IL-17、TNF-α及HMGB1水平高于轻度组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。病例组患儿支气管肺泡灌洗液IL-6、IL-8、IL-17、TNF-α及HMGB1水平高于血清,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。重度组、轻度组支气管肺泡灌洗液IL-6、IL-8、IL-17、TNF-α及HMGB1水平高于血清,差异有统计学意义(P0.05),重度组支气管肺泡灌洗液、血清IL-6、IL-8、IL-17、TNF-α及HMGB1水平分别高于轻度组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。经Spearman积矩相关分析,支气管肺泡灌洗液与血清中IL-6、IL-8、IL-17、TNF-α及HMGB1水平分别呈正相关关系(r=0.711、0.695、0.752、0.793、0.728,P0.05)。结论:炎症因子在大叶性肺炎患儿支气管肺泡灌洗液及血清中呈高表达,并与大叶性肺炎病情严重程度密切相关,联合检测有助于早期评估病情。     

褪黑素通过激活SIRT1信号通路发挥抗肺缺血再灌注损伤作用

目的:研究褪黑素(Melatonin,Mel)在肺缺血再灌注损伤中的作用,明确沉默信息调控因子1(Silent information regulator 1,SIRT1)信号通路在这一过程中的关键作用。方法:建立大鼠肺缺血再灌注损伤(IR)模型,实验分为Control、IR、IR+10 mg/Kg Mel、IR+20 mg/Kg Mel、IR+30 mg/Kg Mel五组,通过检测支气管肺泡灌洗液中白细胞数目、蛋白含量和肺组织中丙二醛(MDA)水平、干湿重比等指标明确肺组织损伤程度,Western blot检测SIRT1通路相关分子及凋亡相关蛋白的表达水平,研究其作用机制。结果:与IR组相比,Mel处理显著降低了支气管肺泡灌洗液中白细胞数量、蛋白含量和肺组织MDA含量、干湿重比(P0.05);Mel还显著上调了SIRT1表达,降低了Ac-FOXO1表达(P0.05);此外,Mel显著提高了抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2表达,下调了凋亡蛋白Bax表达(P0.05)。结论:Mel具有明确的抗肺缺血再灌注损伤的作用,SIRT1信号通路在该过程中可能扮演重要角色。     

不同压力氧气对大鼠潜水减压病的预防作用

目的:研究不同压力氧气对大鼠减压病的预防作用。方法:40只雄性SD大鼠,随机分为减压病组、1 ATA预吸氧组、2 ATA预吸氧组、3 ATA预吸氧组。减压病组置于脱险舱内,以"压缩空气3 min内匀速加压至0.7 MPa,停留60 min后,3 min内匀速减压"方案处理后出舱。预吸氧组分别于进舱前吸不同压力的氧20 min后再按上述方案加减压出舱。出舱后30 min内观测大鼠死亡率、行为学改变;取大鼠肺组织,测其干湿重比、支气管肺泡灌洗液蛋白量以及肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)表达含量变化。结果:和减压病组比较,预吸氧对减压病的死亡率及发病率无明显影响。但1 ATA预吸氧组大鼠支气管肺泡灌洗液蛋白量和炎症因子TNF-α值下降明显,肺干湿重比升高明显(P0.05)。结论:预吸氧对减压病的死亡率及发病率无明显改善,但是常压吸氧可减轻存活大鼠肺泡灌洗液中蛋白渗透、降低肺组织中炎症因子的表达。     

探讨不同阶段哮喘患儿Gal-3、MPO、GM-CSF、TGF-β1水平在支气管肺泡灌洗液中的变化及临床意义

目的:探讨半乳糖凝集素-3(Gal-3)、髓过氧化物酶(MPO)、粒细胞-巨噬细胞集落刺激因子(GM-CSF)和转化生长因子-β1(TGF-β1)在不同阶段哮喘患儿支气管肺泡灌洗液中水平变化及临床指导意义。方法:选择我院2016年3月至2017年6月接诊的114例哮喘患儿(观察组)和36例非哮喘患儿(对照组)的BALF作为研究标本,分别测定细胞总数和分类计数以及Gal-3、MPO、GM-CSF和TGF-β1水平,并进行对比分析。结果:轻度和中重度患儿组与对照组支气管肺泡灌洗液中的TCS、巨噬细胞比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05),中粒细胞、嗜酸性粒细胞和上皮细胞数差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);轻度和中重度组中性粒细胞、嗜酸性粒细胞和上皮细胞数差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);观察组患儿支气管肺泡灌洗液Gal-3、MPO、GM-CSF、TGF-β1表达水平高于对照组[3.59±0.49 vs 10.27±3.89]、[13.82±3.54 vs 21.03±7.05]、[123.07±25.68vs154.82±36.44]、[121.68±7.98vs221.59±44.12];中重度组患儿支气管肺泡灌洗液Gal-3、MPO、GM-CSF、TGF-β1表达水平高于轻度组[6.91±1.43 vs14.42±3.17]、[15.52±4.42 vs25.18±9.73]、[129.53±30.42vs164.78±34.03]、[171.35±21.48vs240.83±34.08];不同阶段哮喘患儿的支气管肺泡灌洗液中Gal-3与MPO、GM-CSF和TGF-β1的表达水平之前存在正相关关系。结论:哮喘患儿BALF中Gal-3、MPO、GM-CSF、TGF-β1的水平变化与病情密切相关,可作为监测哮喘病症发展的有效指标。     

NDRG2在大鼠肺缺血再灌注损伤中的表达

目的:通过建立大鼠肺缺血再灌注损伤(Lung ischemia-reperfusion injury,LIRI)模型,观察肺缺血再灌注损伤后,肺组织中N-myc下游调节基因2(N-myc downstream regulated gene,NDRG2)表达水平的变化.方法:将70只健康成年雄性SD大鼠随机分成对照组(C)、缺血组(I)、缺血再灌注组(I/R)(后两组各含3个亚组),每组10只.麻醉固定大鼠,颈部切口行气管插管.右侧开胸,肺缺血组依次分别选择游离夹闭右肺门(即右主支气管,右肺动、静脉)缺血30 min、60 min、120 min后,麻醉处死大鼠获取肺组织.肺缺血再灌注组同样选择游离夹闭右肺门,于夹闭右肺门60 min后松开,分别取再灌注30 min、60 min、120m in后麻醉处死大鼠获取肺组织样本.采用免疫组化对肺组织NDRG2进行蛋白定位检测、RT-PCR对肺组织NDRG2 mRNA含量进行检测、Western-blot对肺组织NDRG2蛋白含量进行检测.结果:肺缺血组与对照组比较,肺组织NDRG2的表达无明显变化(P＞0.05);肺缺血再灌注组与对照组比较,NDRG2蛋白含量和mRNA表达量逐渐下降,在60 min时达最低,之后又有所回升,但仍低于对照组(P＜0.05).结论:肺缺血再灌注损伤可下调肺组织中NDR G2的表达含量,NDRG2可能是肺缺血再灌注损伤的靶向调控位点.     

持续灌注和静态保存对中性粒细胞凋亡的影响

为研究体外循环机持续灌注、间断压力灌注、单纯低温保存犬离体肺对支气管肺泡灌洗液中中性粒细胞凋亡变化以及对肺泡巨噬细胞吞噬凋亡中性粒细胞的影响,探索最佳的离体肺保存方式,将30只Mongrel犬随机分成3组,为体外循环组、压力灌注组和低温保存组,每组10只。在保持机械通气的条件下,完整摘取双肺,3种不同方式保存离体肺,并按时间点留取支气管肺泡灌洗液标本。流式细胞仪检测犬离体肺支气管肺泡灌洗液中中性粒细胞凋亡,免疫组织化学法检测犬离体肺肺泡巨噬细胞对凋亡中性粒细胞吞噬。随着犬肺离体时间的推移,各实验组离体肺支气管肺泡灌洗液中凋亡的中性粒细胞明显减少,在每个时间点上,体外循环组中性粒细胞的凋亡最多,压力灌注组中次之,低温保存组中最少。各实验组吞噬凋亡中性粒细胞的巨噬细胞随着离体时间的延长呈逐渐减少的趋势,在肺离体各时间点上,体外循环组中巨噬细胞对凋亡中性粒细胞的吞噬清除优于间断压力灌注组和单纯低温保存组。采用体外循环机持续灌注犬离体肺,能增加中性粒细胞凋亡,促使吞噬细胞吞噬凋亡的中性粒细胞,避免发生凋亡延迟,从而减轻离体肺组织的缺血再灌注损伤,具有较好的肺保护作用。     

支气管哮喘伴发抑郁大鼠模型的建立

目的探讨建立支气管哮喘伴发抑郁动物模型的方法。方法选择Wistar大鼠,随机分为对照组与模型组,模型组采用卵蛋白(ovalbumin,OVA)激发法建立哮喘模型,在此基础上给予慢性轻度不可预见性应激(chronic unpredictable mild stress,CUMS)28d,观察大鼠体质量、体征、肺组织结构、支气管肺泡灌洗液白细胞计数等变化,并用Open-field实验评价大鼠活动度和好奇心,通过糖水消耗实验评价大鼠快感缺乏与否。结果与对照组相比,模型组大鼠体质量增长明显缓慢(P0.05);肺组织呈哮喘样病理改变;支气管肺泡灌洗液白细胞总数、嗜酸粒细胞及淋巴细胞增多;Open-field实验,大鼠垂直活动得分、水平活动得分显著降低(P0.05);糖水消耗量明显减少(P0.05)。结论OVA激发复合CUMS可成功制备支气管哮喘伴发抑郁大鼠模型。     

哮喘大鼠肺泡巨噬细胞蛋白激酶C-α表达及丹参对其影响

探讨蛋白激酶 C (Protein Kinase-α,PKCα)在大鼠哮喘模型肺泡巨噬细胞中的表达及丹参的治疗作用。哮喘模型大鼠分为四组。 A组正常对照 ;B组即刻激发组 ;C组哮喘发作一周组 ;D组丹参治疗组。每组分别测定肺功能 ,支气管肺泡灌洗液 (BAL F) ,分离巨噬细胞作免疫细胞化学染色 ,观察 PKCα在大鼠哮喘模型肺泡巨噬细胞中的表达及丹参对其影响。结果发现 A组中肺泡巨噬细胞见 PKCα少量表达 ,而 B、 C、 D组则见大量巨噬细胞 PKCα表达 ,但 D组巨噬细胞 PKCα表达比例显著低于 B、 C组 (P<0 .0 1 )。四组肺泡巨噬细胞 PKCα表达百分比分别为 A组 3.49± 2 .40 % ,B组 85 .0 6± 5 .46 % ,C组 90 .2 3± 2 .87% ,D组 37.89± 7.2 1 %。且 A、 B、 C组肺泡巨噬细胞 PKCα表达比例与气道阻力呈正相关 (n=2 1、 r=0 .74　 P<0 .0 1 ) ,结果说明丹参对哮喘大鼠 BAL F中巨噬细胞 PKCα表达有抑制作用 ,提示肺泡巨噬细胞 PKCα表达参与哮喘发病过程 ,而丹参则对这一过程有抑制作用。     

高压氧联合支气管肺泡灌洗对重型颅脑损伤肺部感染患者临床疗效及血清sTREM-1、HMGB1、CRP/Alb水平的影响

摘要 目的：探讨高压氧（HBO）联合支气管肺泡灌洗对重型颅脑损伤肺部感染（PI）患者临床疗效及血清可溶性髓系细胞触发受体-1（sTREM-1）、高迁移率族蛋白B1（HMGB1）、C反应蛋白/白蛋白（CRP/Alb）水平的影响。方法：选取2019年9月-2022年9月安徽中医药大学附属六安医院收治的72例重型颅脑损伤PI患者为研究对象,按随机数字表法分为观察组和对照组,每组各36例。对照组采用支气管肺泡灌洗治疗,观察组采用HBO联合支气管肺泡灌洗治疗。收集两组临床资料,对比两组临床疗效、治疗前后临床体征[体温、动脉血氧分压（PaO₂）,血白细胞计数（WBC）]、临床肺部感染评分（CPIS）、全身炎症反应综合征修正（ASS）评分、格拉斯哥昏迷评分（GCS）、血清指标（sTREM-1、HMGB1、CRP/Alb）。结果：观察组治疗总有效率94.44%高于对照组的77.78%（P＜0.05）;治疗后观察组体温、WBC、CPIS评分、ASS评分低于对照组,PaO₂、GCS评分高于对照组（P＜0.05）;治疗后观察组血清sTREM-1、HMGB1、CRP/Alb水平低于对照组（P＜0.05）。结论：HBO联合支气管肺泡灌洗治疗重型颅脑损伤PI能减轻炎症反应,降低PI程度,减轻临床体征,提高临床疗效。     

红霉素对慢性阻塞性肺疾病大鼠ICAM-1、MMP-9的表达影响

目的:观察慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)大鼠肺组织中ICAM-1及MMP-9的表达及红霉素的干预作用。方法:复制COPD大鼠模型,并用红霉素干预,收集支气管肺泡灌洗液行细胞学计数和分类检查;采用HE染色观察病理形态变化;免疫组化法检测大鼠支气管肺组织ICAM-1、MMP-9的表达。结果:与模型组比较,干预组支气管肺组织中ICAM-1、MMP-9表达显著降低;模型组中ICAM-1、MMP-9的表达与BALF中白细胞总数及中性粒细胞数成正相关;ICAM-1与MMP-9的表达成正相关。结论:COPD大鼠肺组织中的ICAM-1、MMP-9表达明显升高,可能与COPD的发病机制有关;红霉素可降低ICAM-1、MMP-9的表达,可能是红霉素在COPD中抗炎症反应的作用机制之一。     

The effects of cytocentrifugation on differential cell counts in samples obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage

Quantification of the differential cell count and total number of cells recovered from the lower respiratory tract by bronchoalveolar lavage is a valuable technique for the diagnostic study of interstitial lung diseases. To examine the effect on the cell counts of different methods of processing the lavage fluid, two comparisons were performed. First, two methods of differential cell counting were compared using 28 fluids. One count was performed in a Malassez hemocytometer after incubation of the living cells with neutral red for five minutes at room temperature; large cells and some small cells that had incorporated neutral red were identified as macrophages. Another count was performed on cytocentrifuge preparations made using the Shandon Cytospin I and Cytospin II and stained by the May-Grünwald-Giemsa method. The percentage of cells identified as lymphocytes was significantly lower on the cytocentrifuge preparations than with the Malassez hemocytometer. In the second study, the differential cell counts on smears prepared by the two types of cytocentrifuge (Cytospin I and Cytospin II) were compared for 32 bronchoalveolar lavage fluids. The percentage of small cells (especially lymphocytes) was lower on preparations made with the Cytospin I than on those made with the Cytospin II, but the difference was not significant. The results indicate that (1) cytocentrifugation of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids does result in a significant loss of small cells, especially lymphocytes, and (2) this loss is not significantly lessened by the use of the Cytospin II.     

Inhibition of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase activity improves ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat lungs

Although c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of transplantation-induced ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in various organs, its significance in lung transplantation has not been conclusively elucidated. We therefore attempted to measure the transitional changes in JNK and AP-1 activities in I/R-injured lungs. Subsequently, we assessed the effects of JNK inhibition by the three agents including SP600125 on the degree of lung injury assessed by means of various biological markers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and histological examination including detection of apoptosis. In addition, we evaluated the changes in p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and NF-kappaB-DNA binding activity. I/R injury was established in the isolated rat lung preserved in modified Euro-Collins solution at 4 degrees C for 4 h followed by reperfusion at 37 degrees C for 3 h. We found that AP-1 was transiently activated during ischemia but showed sustained activation during reperfusion, leading to significant lung injury and apoptosis. The change in AP-1 was generally in parallel with that of JNK, which was activated in epithelial cells (bronchial and alveolar), alveolar macrophages, and smooth muscle cells (bronchial and vascular) on immunohistochemical examination. The change in NF-kappaB qualitatively differed from that of AP-1. Protein leakage, release of lactate dehydrogenase and TNF-alpha into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and lung injury were improved, and apoptosis was suppressed by JNK inhibition. In conclusion, JNK plays a pivotal role in mediating lung injury caused by I/R. Therefore, inhibition of JNK activity has potential as an effective therapeutic strategy for preventing I/R injury during lung transplantation.     

Role of CD13/aminopeptidase N in rat lymphocytic alveolitis caused by thoracic irradiation

CD13/aminopeptidase N is a cell surface glycoprotein that is widely distributed in a variety of mammalian cells. It was recently shown to have chemotactic activity for T lymphocytes. This study examined the role of CD13/aminopeptidase N in lymphocytic alveolitis in radiation-induced lung injury caused by a single-dose thoracic irradiation (15 Gy) in rats. Significantly increased aminopeptidase activity was detected in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained from irradiated rats at 4 weeks after irradiation compared to the activity in unirradiated rats. Significantly higher aminopeptidase activity was detected on alveolar macrophages from irradiated rats at 2 and 4 weeks than on those from unirradiated rats. Western blot analysis showed an increased expression of CD13/aminopeptidase N protein in alveolar macrophages from irradiated rats at 4 weeks. Chemotactic activity for normal rat lymphocytes was detected in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from irradiated rats at 4 weeks, and approximately 60% of the activity was inhibited by pretreatment of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid with bestatin, a specific aminopeptidase inhibitor. This study suggests that CD13/aminopeptidase N may play an important role as a lymphocyte chemoattractant in lymphocyte-mediated alveolitis in experimental radiation-induced lung injury.     

High mobility group protein-1 inhibits phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils through binding to phosphatidylserine

Phagocytosis of apoptotic cells, also called efferocytosis, is an essential feature of immune responses and critical to resolution of inflammation. Impaired efferocytosis is associated with an unfavorable outcome from inflammatory diseases, including acute lung injury and pulmonary manifestations of cystic fibrosis. High mobility group protein-1 (HMGB1), a nuclear nonhistone DNA-binding protein, has recently been found to be secreted by immune cells upon stimulation with LPS and cytokines. Plasma and tissue levels of HMGB1 are elevated for prolonged periods in chronic and acute inflammatory conditions, including sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis, acute lung injury, burns, and hemorrhage. In this study, we found that HMGB1 inhibits phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils by macrophages in vivo and in vitro. Phosphatidylserine (PS) is directly involved in the inhibition of phagocytosis by HMGB1, as blockade of HMGB1 by PS eliminates the effects of HMGB1 on efferocytosis. Confocal and fluorescence resonance energy transfer demonstrate that HMGB1 interacts with PS on the neutrophil surface. However, HMGB1 does not inhibit PS-independent phagocytosis of viable neutrophils. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from Scnn(+) mice, a murine model of cystic fibrosis lung disease which contains elevated concentrations of HMGB1, inhibits neutrophil efferocytosis. Anti-HMGB1 Abs reverse the inhibitory effect of Scnn(+) bronchoalveolar lavage on efferocytosis, showing that this effect is due to HMGB1. These findings demonstrate that HMGB1 can modulate phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils and suggest an alternative mechanism by which HMGB1 is involved in enhancing inflammatory responses.     

Inhibition of high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) enhances bacterial clearance and protects against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa pneumonia in cystic fibrosis

Pulmonary infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and neutrophilic lung inflammation significantly contribute to morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF). High-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), a ubiquitous DNA binding protein that promotes inflammatory tissue injury, is significantly elevated in CF sputum. However, its mechanistic and potential therapeutic implications in CF were previously unknown. We found that HMGB1 levels were significantly elevated in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALs) of CF patients and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR )(-/-) mice. Neutralizing anti-HMGB1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) conferred significant protection against P. aeruginosa-induced neutrophil recruitment, lung injury and bacterial infection in both CFTR(-/-) and wild-type mice. Alveolar macrophages isolated from mice treated with anti-HMGB1 mAb had improved phagocytic activity, which was suppressed by direct exposure to HMGB1. In addition, BAL from CF patients significantly impaired macrophage phagocytotic function, and this impairment was attenuated by HMGB1-neutralizing antibodies. The HMGB1-mediated suppression of bacterial phagocytosis was attenuated in macrophages lacking toll-like receptor (TLR)-4, suggesting a critical role for TLR4 in signaling HMGB1-mediated macrophage dysfunction. These studies demonstrate that the elevated levels of HMGB1 in CF airways are critical for neutrophil recruitment and persistent presence of P. aeruginosa in the lung. Thus, HMGB1 may provide a therapeutic target for reducing bacterial infection and lung inflammation in CF.     

Electron microscopy and autoradiography study of bronchoalveolar lavage cells in nonspecific pneumonia

Cells obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage from patients with chronic nonspecific pulmonary inflammatory diseases were studied using light and electron microscopy and radioautography. Five morphological forms of alveolar macrophages, distinct in their structure and 3H-uridine content were described. A higher level of RNA synthesis has been revealed in alveolar macrophage forms 2 and 3 than in forms 1, 4 and 5; with it being lower in polymorphonuclear leukocytes and lymphocytes. It was shown that changes in the number of lavage cells and the structure-to-function characteristics in each cellular population depended on the phase of the inflammatory process. It was postulated that structural and metabolic heterogeneity of alveolar macrophages reflected the successive stages of cellular development from cell-precursors (through activation of protein synthesis) to cells with complete lysosomal cycle and the following phagocytosis.     

Effects of pertussis toxin and indomethacin on murine lymphocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids

The total number of lymphocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids significantly increased in mice injected intravenously with pertussis toxin (PT), while the absolute number of alveolar macrophages markedly decreased. This finding probably reflects the lymphocyte accumulation in interstitial spaces as we previously observed in mice injected with PT. In addition, indomethacin, at lower dosage (0.5 mg/kg) prevented peripheral lymphocytosis and lymphocyte accumulation in the alveolar spaces of the lungs of mice injected with PT. These results provide evidence that PT is responsible for lymphocyte accumulation together with a marked decrease of alveolar macrophages in the lungs of treated mice; moreover, indomethacin is effective in preventing bronchoalveolar changes caused by PT.     

Soluble Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) Is Elevated in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid of Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Introduction

Pulmonary vascular endothelial activation has been implicated in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), yet little is known about the presence and role of endothelial activation markers in the alveolar space in ARDS. We hypothesized that endothelial activation biomarkers would be differentially expressed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with ARDS compared with healthy volunteers, and that biomarker concentrations would be associated with ARDS severity.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from 26 intubated patients with ARDS undergoing evaluation for clinically suspected ventilator-associated pneumonia and five healthy volunteers. Patients underwent bronchoalveolar lavage a median of five days after intubation. Healthy volunteers also underwent bronchoalveolar lavage. Endothelial activation biomarkers (soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 [sVCAM-1], soluble endothelial selectin [sESEL], angiopoietin-1 [Ang-1] and angiopoietin-2 [Ang-2]) were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Clinically suspected ventilator-associated pneumonia was confirmed with microbiologic culture data.

Results

Patients with ARDS had significantly higher median sVCAM-1 concentrations in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid compared with healthy volunteers (985 vs 119 pg/mL, p = 0.03). Additionally, there was a trend toward greater bronchoalveolar lavage fluid sVCAM-1 concentrations among patients with moderate/severe compared to mild ARDS (1395 vs 209 pg/mL, p = 0.06). We did not detect significant differences in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid levels of sESEL, Ang-1 or Ang-2 between patients with ARDS and healthy volunteers. Median bronchoalveolar lavage fluid biomarker levels did not differ between patients with and without microbiologically-confirmed ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Conclusions

sVCAM-1 concentrations were significantly higher in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with ARDS compared to healthy controls, and tended to be higher in moderate/severe ARDS compared to mild ARDS. Our findings add to the growing evidence supporting the concept that endothelial activation plays an important mechanistic role in the pathogenesis of ARDS. Further studies are necessary to characterize the role and/or clinical significance of sVCAM-1 and other endothelial activation markers present in the alveolar space in ARDS.     

Soluble complement receptor type 1 ameliorates the local and remote organ injury after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion in the rat.

We examined the role of C activation in ischemia reperfusion injury by inhibiting C activation in a rat model of mesenteric arterial occlusion. In anesthetized rats, 60 min of mesenteric arterial occlusion was followed by 3 h of reperfusion. PBS alone or containing soluble C receptor 1 (3 or 6 mg) was administered i.v. Controls underwent laparotomy without ischemia. Relative serum C activities were assessed by hemolytic assay, neutrophil (polymorphonuclear leukocyte) sequestration by tissue content of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, intestinal mucosal injury by histologic grading, lung vascular permeability by the ratio of bronchoalveolar lavage to blood concentration of radiolabeled BSA, and endothelial cell injury was quantified by measurement of plasma factor VIII-related Ag. After reperfusion, PBS-treated animals had increased intestinal MPO (0.048 +/- 0.007 U/g) compared to sham (0.022 +/- 0.005 U/g (p less than 0.05)) and intestinal mucosal injury score (2.490 +/- 0.221) compared to sham (0.331 +/- 0.045 (p less than 0.05)). Treatment with 6 mg soluble C receptor 1 15 min before reperfusion reduced intestinal MPO (0.017 +/- 0.003 U/g (p less than 0.05)) and mucosal injury (1.733 +/- 0.168 (p less than 0.05)) compared to PBS control. PBS-treated animals also demonstrated increased lung MPO (0.314 +/- 0.025 U/g vs 0.085 +/- 0.018 in sham (p less than 0.05)) and increased lung permeability (bronchoalveolar lavage/blood cpm 11.32 +/- 1.35 x 10(-3) vs sham 2.22 +/- 0.19 x 10(-3) (p less than 0.05)). Treatment with 6 mg soluble C receptor 1 15 min before reperfusion or at reperfusion reduced the lung permeability (bronchoalveolar lavage/blood cpm 3.90 +/- 0.79 x 10(-3) and 5.08 +/- 0.75, respectively (both p less than 0.05)) compared to PBS control, but did not reduce lung MPO (0.342 +/- 0.031 U/g and 0.246 +/- 0.025), respectively. Treatment with sCR1 also reduced the release of factor VIII-related Ag, 5-day mortality, and C hemolytic activity. In this model, C is a major mediator of intestinal injury and extraintestinal injury.