L Kobzik

We hypothesized that muscle fiber bundles produce reactive oxygen intermediates and that reactive oxidant species contribute to muscular fatigue in vitro. Fiber bundles from rat diaphragm were mounted in chambers containing Krebs-Ringer solution. In studies of intracellular oxidant kinetics, bundles were loaded with 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin, a fluorochrome that emits at 520 nm when oxidized; emissions were quantified using a fluorescence microscope. Emissions from unstimulated muscles increased over time (P < 0.001). Accumulation of fluorescence was slowed by addition of catalase (P < 0.001) or superoxide dismutase (P < 0.001) and was accelerated by repetitive muscular contraction (P < 0.05). To determine effects of reactive oxygen intermediates on fatigue, curarized bundles were stimulated to contract isometrically; force was measured. Catalase, superoxide dismutase, and dimethyl sulfoxide were screened for effects on low- and high-frequency fatigue. Antioxidants inhibited low-frequency fatigue [after 5 min of repetitive contractions, force at 30 Hz was 20% greater than control (P < 0.015)] and increased the variability of fatigue at 30 Hz (P < 0.03). Antioxidants did not alter high-frequency (200-Hz) fatigue. We conclude that 1) diaphragm fiber bundles produce reactive oxygen intermediates, including O2-. and H2O2; 2) muscular contraction increases intracellular oxidant levels; and 3) reactive oxygen intermediates promote low-frequency fatigue in this preparation.

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury is dependent on complement. This study examines the role of the alternative and classic pathways of complement and IgM in a murine model of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion. Wild-type animals, mice deficient in complement factor 4 (C4), C3, or Ig, or wild-type mice treated with soluble complement receptor 1 were subjected to 40 min of jejunal ischemia and 3 h of reperfusion. Compared with wild types, knockout and treated mice had significantly reduced intestinal injury, indicated by lowered permeability to radiolabeled albumin. When animals deficient in Ig were reconstituted with IgM, the degree of injury was restored to wild-type levels. Immunohistological staining of intestine for C3 and IgM showed colocalization in the mucosa of wild-type controls and minimal staining for both in the intestine of Ig-deficient and C4-deficient mice. We conclude that intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury is dependent on the classic complement pathway and IgM.

The aim of this study was to look at the role of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein as a natural anti-inflammatory agent with particular respect to its antineutrophil and anticomplement activity. A recombinantly engineered form of sialyl Lewisx (sLe(x))-bearing alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (sAGP) was administered intravenously to pentobarbital-anesthetized rats after 50 min of intestinal ischemia just before 4 h of reperfusion. A non-sLe(x)-bearing form of AGP (nsAGP) was used as control. sAGP-treated animals had a 62% reduction (P < 0.05) in remote lung injury, assessed by 125I-albumin permeability, compared with those treated with nsAGP (permeability index of 3.61 +/- 0.15 x 10(-3) and 5.18 +/- 0.67 x 10(-3), respectively). There was a reduction in pulmonary myeloperoxidase levels in sAGP-treated rats compared with nsAGP-treated rats. Complement-dependent intestinal injury, assessed by 125I-albumin permeability was reduced by 28% (P < 0.05) in animals treated with sAGP (7.58 +/- 0.63) compared with those treated with nsAGP (10.4 +/- 0.54). We conclude that sAGP ameliorates both complement- and neutrophil-mediated injuries.

Acid aspiration leads to increased neutrophil (PMN) oxidative metabolism, an event associated with lung leukosequestration and permeability increase. Neutropenia protected the vascular barrier function against acid injury. This study tests whether active oxygen species and elastase (which are presumably released by adherent PMNs) affect the microvascular barrier. Anesthetized rats underwent tracheostomy and insertion of a cannula into a lung segment. This was followed by localized instillation of 0.1 N HCl (n = 18) or saline (n = 18). Sequestration of PMNs in acid-aspirated and nonaspirated segments was 77 and 46 PMNs/high-power field (HPF), respectively, which was higher than control values of 11 and 8 PMNs/10 HPF in saline-aspirated and nonaspirated regions (P less than 0.05). Acid aspiration was associated with increased protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid to 3,550 and 2,900 micrograms/ml in the aspirated and nonaspirated lungs, respectively, which were higher than control values of 420 and 400 micrograms/ml (P less than 0.05). Acid aspiration also led to increased lung wet-to-dry weight ratios (W/D) of 6.6 and 5.4, which were higher than control values of 3.4 and 3.3 (P less than 0.05). Intravenous treatment of rats (n = 18) 90 min after aspiration with scavengers of reactive oxygen species, superoxide dismutase (1,500 U/kg), and catalase (5,000 U/kg), both conjugated to polyethylene glycol, did not reduce PMN sequestration but attenuated acid aspiration-induced increase in protein accumulation in BAL fluid in the aspirated and nonaspirated segments (990 and 610 micrograms/ml) as well as the increased lung W/D (4.6 and 4.0; all P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Lower torso ischemia leads to acute respiratory failure, an event associated with the accumulation of inflammatory cells in the lungs. This study tests whether ischemia-induced eicosanoid synthesis leads to polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) accumulation in the lungs. Anesthetized rats (N = 51) were randomized into five groups: nonischemic sham rats (N = 10); the remaining four groups were rats made ischemic for 4 hours with bilateral thigh tourniquets treated just before tourniquet release with saline vehicle (N = 17): the thromboxane (Tx) synthase inhibitor OKY-046 (Ono Pharmaceutica, Osaka, Japan) 2 mg/kg intravenously every 2 hours (N = 8); the lipoxygenase inhibitor diethylcarbamazine (DEC) (Sigma, St. Louis, MO) 0.2 mg/kg/min intravenously (N = 8); the platelet-activating factor receptor antagonist SRI (Sandoz Inc., East Hanover, NJ) 63-072 3 mg/kg intravenously every 30 minutes (N = 8). Four hours after ischemia, plasma TxB2 levels in the ischemic placebo-treated group was 3570 +/- 695 pg/mL, compared with 495 +/- 73 pg/mL in sham rats (p less than 0.001). Lung microscopy showed foci of proteinaceous exudate in alveoli and 121 +/- 10 PMN/20 high power fields (HPF) compared with 59 +/- 9 PMN/20 HPF in the sham group (p less than 0.001). One day after ischemia PMN accumulations remained elevated at 119 PMN/20 HPF. Pretreatment with OKY-046 led to reduced TxB2 levels of 149 +/- 17 pg/mL, normal lung histology, and 83 +/- 13 PMN/20 HPF, a value similar to that of the sham group and lower than that of the placebo-treated group (p less than 0.05). Treatment with DEC yielded TxB2 levels of 1419 +/- 492 pg/mL, which was lower than that of the placebo group (p less than 0.05) but higher than that of the sham group (p less than 0.05). Microscopy showed normal lungs with 79 +/- 7 PMN/20 HPF lower than the placebo group (p less than 0.05). SRI 63-072 did not inhibit Tx synthesis or leukosequestration in the lungs. Platelet counts decreased in all groups relative to sham animals (p less than 0.05). The results indicate that Tx synthesis induced by ischemia moderates PMN accumulations in the lungs. Inhibition of lipoxygenase is believed to prevent PMN accumulations both by limiting leukotriene-induced Tx synthesis as well as by limiting production of chemoattractants.