Vol. 275, Issue 2, L330-L335, August 1998
Enhancement of fibronectin expression in rat lung by ozone and
an inflammatory stimulus
S. K.
Gupta,
P. G.
Reinhart, and
D. K.
Bhalla
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences,
Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202
This study investigated
the relationship of fibronectin expression and induction of pulmonary
inflammation by ozone (O3). Rats were exposed to 0.8 parts/million O3 to induce lung inflammation. A second
inflammatory stimulus, rabbit serum, was applied intratracheally to
augment O3-induced inflammation. Bronchoalveolar lavage
fluid (BALF) and lung tissues were analyzed for fibronectin protein and
mRNA expression. Blood plasma was analyzed to investigate the potential
of a minimally invasive procedure in predicting lung inflammation and
fibronectin levels. Significant increases in the levels of fibronectin
protein in the BALF and lung tissue after O3 exposure were
further enhanced by pretreatment with normal serum. An increase in
fibronectin mRNA following O3 exposure was also enhanced by
serum pretreatment, which by itself had no effect on lung fibronectin
mRNA expression. Plasma fibronectin levels were comparable in air-PBS
and O3-PBS groups but increased in the O3-serum
group. The results suggest leakage of fibronectin from blood plasma
into the lung following intratracheal application of rabbit serum and
upregulation of local synthesis following O3 exposure.
inflammation; bronchoalveolar lavage
