Khalil Bdeir1, Abd Al-Roof Higazi1,2, Irina Kulikovskaya1, Melpo Christofidou-Solomidou3, Sergei A. Vinogradov4, Timothy C. Allen5, Steven Idell5, Rose Linzmeier6, Tomas Ganz6 and Douglas B. Cines1,3. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 181. pp. 935-946, (2010)
Rationale: The involvement of neutrophil activation in the sentinel, potentially reversible, events in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI) is only partially understood. -Defensins are the most abundant proteins secreted by activated human neutrophils, but their contribution to ALI in mouse models is hindered by their absence from murine neutrophils and the inability to study their effects in isolation in other species.


Objectives: To study the role of -defensins in the pathogenesis of ALI in a clinically relevant setting using mice transgenic for polymorphonuclear leukocyte expression of -defensins.

Methods: Transgenic mice expressing polymorphonuclear leukocyte -defensins were generated. ALI was induced by acid aspiration. Pulmonary vascular permeability was studied in vivo using labeled dextran and fibrin deposition. The role of the low-density lipoprotein–related receptor (LRP) in permeability was examined.

Measurements and Main Results: Acid aspiration induced neutrophil migration and release of -defensins into lung parenchyma and airways. ALI was more severe in -defensin–expressing mice than in wild-type mice, as determined by inspection, influx of neutrophils into the interstitial space and airways, histological evidence of epithelial injury, interstitial edema, extravascular fibrin deposition, impaired oxygenation, and reduced survival. Within 4 hours of insult, -defensin–expressing mice showed greater disruption of capillary–epithelial barrier function and ALI that was attenuated by systemic or intratracheal administration of specific inhibitors of the LRP.

Conclusions: -Defensins mediate ALI through LRP-mediated loss of capillary–epithelial barrier function, suggesting a potential new approach to intervention.


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