Decreased expression of aquaporin (AQP)1 and AQP5 in mouse lung after acute viral infection

Intratracheal infection of mice with adenovirus is associated with subsequent pulmonary inflammation and edema. Water movement through the air space-capillary barrier in the distal lung is facilitated by aquaporins (AQPs). To investigate the possibility that distal lung AQPs undergo altered regulation under conditions of aberrant fluid handling in the lung, we analyzed messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression of AQPs 1 and 5 in the lungs of mice 7 and 14 d after infection with adenovirus. Here, we demonstrate that AQP1 and AQP5 show decreased expression following adenoviral infection. Northern blot analysis showed significantly decreased mRNA levels of AQP1, which is expressed in the capillary endothelium, and AQP5, which is expressed in alveolar epithelium, in the lungs of mice both 7 and 14 d after infection. Immunoblotting studies demonstrated significantly reduced levels of AQP1 and AQP5 protein after infection as well. In addition, mRNA expression of the alpha subunit of the epithelial sodium channel was reduced in the lungs of mice 7 and 14 d after adenoviral infection. In contrast, mRNA expression of the alpha1 subunit of the Na,K-adenosine triphosphatase in the lung was unaltered. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that the decreases in AQP1 and AQP5 expression were not localized to regions of overt inflammation but were found throughout the lung. Thus, this study provides the first report of AQP gene regulation in an in vivo model of pulmonary inflammation and edema. Decreased AQP1 and AQP5 levels during adenoviral infection suggest a role for AQP1 and AQP5 in the abnormal fluid fluxes detected during pulmonary inflammation.     

The role of aquaporin-1 (AQP1) expression in a murine model of lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury

A murine model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) was used to evaluate whether aquaporin-1 (AQP1) is involved in lung inflammation and lung edema formation. Swiss strain mice (n = 122) had LPS (5 mg/kg) instilled intratracheally (IT), and were then treated with either 0.9 % saline or dexamethasone (5 mg/kg/day). Mice were euthanized at 2 days and 7 days after treatment. Inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-6), protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, lung wet-to-dry weight ratio, histology, immunohistochemistry, and AQP1 Western blot were performed. Lung wet-to-dry weight ratio and lung vascular permeability were also measured in the AQP1 knockout mice (n = 9) that received IT LPS (5 mg/kg) at 2 days. Intratracheal instillation of LPS produced a severe lung injury at 2 days, characterized by elevation of TNF-alpha, IL-6 in the BAL fluid, and by histological changes consistent with increased lung vascular permeability and neutrophil infiltration. AQP1-immunoreactivity in the pulmonary capillary endothelium was reduced at 2 days and 7 days. Administration of dexamethasone improved LPS-induced ALI and retained expression of AQP1. However, depletion of AQP1 did not affect lung edema formation, lung vascular permeability, or lung histology. The results suggest that although AQP1 expression is decreased after lung injury, depletion of AQP1 does not alter lung inflammation and lung edema induced by LPS.     

Anti-asthmatic agents alleviate pulmonary edema by upregulating AQP1 and AQP5 expression in the lungs of mice with OVA-induced asthma

Ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma in mouse lungs causes changes in the mRNA and protein levels of aquaporins (AQPs). AQP expression was examined in the presence of various anti-asthmatic agents, including dexamethasone, ambroxol, and terbutaline. The influence of these agents on OVA-induced airway inflammation was also evaluated. The mRNA expression levels of AQP1, 4, and 5 were significantly reduced and that of AQP3 was significantly increased 24h after the last OVA exposure. The protein levels of AQP1, 3, and 5 mirrored the mRNA expression profiles, but AQP4 did not exhibit any changes. Only the mRNA and protein expression levels of AQP1 and AQP5 were significantly increased by these three anti-asthmatic agents. Dexamethasone and ambroxol improved the eosinophil infiltration, mucus secretion, and pulmonary edema caused by OVA, but terbutaline only alleviated pulmonary edema. These results indicate that AQP1 and AQP5 are closely related to pulmonary edema but not to eosinophil infiltration or mucus secretion during asthma. Anti-asthmatic agents could alleviate pulmonary edema through upregulating the expression of AQP1 and AQP5 in mouse lungs that have OVA-induced asthma.     

Upregulation of AQP3 and AQP5 induced by dexamethasone and ambroxol in A549 cells

Aquaporins (AQPs) are membrane channel proteins that play roles in the regulation of water permeability in many tissues. AQP1 and AQP5 expressed in lung provide the principal route for osmotically driven water transport. In the airways, AQP3 and AQP4 facilitate water transport. Dexamethasone and ambroxol are often used to treat patients with pulmonary diseases accompanied by airway hypersecretion. The role of AQPs in these effective treatments has not been addressed. In this study, we analyzed the expression of AQPs in a human airway epithelial cell line (A549 cells) and showed that AQP3 and 5, but not AQP1 and 4, were expressed in A549 cells. Both dexamethasone and ambroxol stimulated the expression of AQP3 and 5 at the mRNA and protein levels. The data suggest potential roles of AQP3 and 5 in the regulation of airway hypersecretion, perhaps ultimately providing a target for treating such diseases.     

肺脏的水孔蛋白家族

90年代以来 ,作为膜上水分子通道的水孔蛋白(ａｑｕａｐｏｒｉｎｓ ,ＡＱＰｓ)家族克隆成功[1,2 ] ,对自由水被动跨膜转运机制做出更加形象而深入的解释。肺脏的许多生理功能都有水分子运动的参与 ,同时许多肺脏疾病 ,如哮喘、肺水肿和急性呼吸窘迫综合征等也涉及肺内水运动平衡的紊乱。因此肺内水孔蛋白的分布及其病理生理意义日益受到重视。1　水孔蛋白的结构与功能特点水孔蛋白属于膜主体内在蛋白 (ｍａｊｏｒｉｎｔｅｒｎａｌｐｒｏｔｅｉｎ ,ＭＩＰ)家族的成员 ,目前在人类和哺乳动物身上共发现 10个亚型 ,广泛分布于多个组织器官 ,具…     

Role of aquaporins in lung liquid physiology

Aquaporins (AQPs) are small, integral membrane proteins that facilitate water transport across cell membranes in response to osmotic gradients. Water transport across epithelia and endothelia in the peripheral lung and airways occurs during airway hydration, alveolar fluid transport and submucosal gland secretion. Several AQPs are expressed in the lung and airways: AQP1 in microvascular endothelia, AQP3 and AQP4 in airway epithelia, and AQP5 in type I alveolar epithelial cells, submucosal gland acini, and a subset of airway epithelial cells. Phenotype analysis of transgenic knockout mice lacking AQPs has defined their roles in the lung and airways. AQP1 and AQP5 provide the principal route for osmotically driven water transport between airspace and capillary compartments; however, alveolar fluid clearance in the neonatal and adult lung is not affected by their deletion, nor is lung fluid accumulation in experimental models of lung injury. In the airways, though AQP3 and AQP4 facilitate osmotic water transport, their deletion does not impair airway hydration, regulation of airway surface liquid, or fluid absorption. In contrast to these negative findings, AQP5 deletion in submucosal glands reduced fluid secretion by >50%. The substantially slower fluid transport in the lung compared to renal and secretory epithelia probably accounts for the lack of functional significance of AQPs in the lung and airways. Recent data outside of the lung implicating the involvement of AQPs in cell migration and proliferation suggests possible new roles for lung AQPs to be explored.     

Bronchiolar expression of aquaporin-3 (AQP3) in rat lung and its dynamics in pulmonary oedema

Aquaporins (AQPs) are water channel proteins that permit osmotically driven water movement. To determine their dynamics in pulmonary oedema, we examined the expression of mRNA and protein for AQP1, AQP3, AQP4, and AQP5 in the lungs of normal and thiourea-treated rats. In the thiourea group, lung water content increased significantly (vs. controls) with the peak at around 4 h. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed that AQP3 mRNA in the thiourea group rose significantly, peaking at around 4–8 h. The expression of AQP1, AQP4, AQP5, ENaC and CFTR mRNA each decreased significantly some time after the peak in lung water content. Immunoblot analysis showed that glycosylated AQP3 protein was increased 4–10 h after treatment. Expression of the other AQP proteins was not significantly altered, except for that of AQP4. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that AQP1 was expressed in endothelia, AQP3 in the basal cells of the large airways and in cuboidal cells in the bronchioles, AQP4 in the basolateral membrane of airway cells and AQP5 in type-I pneumocytes. Our results suggest that AQP3 is expressed not only in large airways, but also in bronchioles, and is related to water movement in pulmonary oedema.     

Protection of LPS-induced murine acute lung injury by sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase suppression

A defining feature of acute lung injury (ALI) is the increased lung vascular permeability and alveolar flooding, which leads to associated morbidity and mortality. Specific therapies to alleviate the unremitting vascular leak in ALI are not currently clinically available; however, our prior studies indicate a protective role for sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) in animal models of ALI with reductions in lung edema. As S1P levels are tightly regulated by synthesis and degradation, we tested the hypothesis that inhibition of S1P lyase (S1PL), the enzyme that irreversibly degrades S1P via cleavage, could ameliorate ALI. Intratracheal instillation of LPS to mice enhanced S1PL expression, decreased S1P levels in lung tissue, and induced lung inflammation and injury. LPS challenge of wild-type mice receiving 2-acetyl-4(5)-[1(R),2(S),3(R),4-tetrahydroxybutyl]-imidazole to inhibit S1PL or S1PL(+/-) mice resulted in increased S1P levels in lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and reduced lung injury and inflammation. Moreover, down-regulation of S1PL expression by short interfering RNA (siRNA) in primary human lung microvascular endothelial cells increased S1P levels, and attenuated LPS-mediated phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and I-κB, IL-6 secretion, and endothelial barrier disruption via Rac1 activation. These results identify a novel role for intracellularly generated S1P in protection against ALI and suggest S1PL as a potential therapeutic target.     

AQP1 mediates water transport in the carotid body

In this study, we explored the presence of aquaporins (AQPs), a family of membrane water channel proteins, in carotid body (CB) type I chemoreceptor cells. The CB is a polymodal chemoreceptor whose major function is to detect changes in arterial O₂ tension to elicit hyperventilation during hypoxia. The CB has also been proposed to function as a systemic osmoreceptor, thus we hypothesized that the presence of AQPs in type I cell membrane may confer higher sensitivity to osmolarity changes and hence accelerate the activation of chemoreceptor cells. We detected the expression of AQP1, AQP7, and AQP8 in the CB and confirmed the location of AQP1 in type I cells. We have also shown that inhibition of AQP1 expression clearly reduced type I cell swelling after a hyposmotic shock, demonstrating that AQP1 has a major contribution in transmembrane water movement in these chemoreceptor cells. Interestingly, CB AQP1 expression levels change during postnatal development, increasing during the first postnatal weeks as the organ matures. In conclusion, in this study, we report the novel observation that AQPs are expressed in the CB. We also show that AQP1 mediates water transport across the cell membrane of type I cells, supporting the contribution of this protein to the osmoreception function of the CB.     

腺苷A2A受体激动剂CGS21680对脂多糖诱导的小鼠急性肺损伤的保护作用

 目的：探讨腺苷A2A受体激动剂对脂多糖(LPS)诱导的急性肺损伤（ALI）小鼠的作用。方法：采用LPS（10 mg/kg）气管内注射6 h后的ALI小鼠模型。实验动物随机分为生理盐水对照组、ALI组、CGS21680治疗组和CGS21680对照组。测定各组6 h后肺湿重/干重比值（W/D）。比色法测定各组肺组织中髓过氧化物酶(MPO)活性。Western blotting分析各组肺组织中细胞间黏附分子1（ICAM-1）和血管细胞黏附分子1（VCAM-1）的表达。酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）检测各组小鼠血清中单核细胞趋化蛋白1（MCP-1）的浓度。观察各组肺组织病理改变。结果：ALI组肺W/D、MPO活性、ICAM-1及VCAM-1表达和MCP-1浓度均较对照组显著升高。CGS21680治疗组前述各项指标较ALI组有显著下降。CGS21680组较对照组各项指标无显著差异。肺组织病理显示,ALI组可见肺间质明显充血水肿,大量炎症细胞浸润,部分肺泡腔内可见红细胞。CGS21680治疗组可显著改善肺组织的病理变化。结论：腺苷A2A受体激动剂CGS21680可明显减轻LPS诱导的ALI小鼠肺组织的炎症反应及肺组织水肿,提示腺苷A2A受体激动剂在急性肺损伤中具有保护作用。     

Time-Dependent Expression Patterns of Cardiac Aquaporins Following Myocardial Infarction

Aquaporins (AQPs) are expressed in myocardium and the implication of AQPs in myocardial water balance has been suggested. We investigated the expression patterns of AQP subtypes in normal myocardium and their changes in the process of edema formation and cardiac dysfunction following myocardial infarction (MI). Immunostaining demonstrated abundant expression of AQP1, AQP4, and AQP6 in normal mouse heart; AQP1 in blood vessels and cardiac myocytes, AQP4 exclusively on the intercalated discs between cardiac myocytes and AQP6 inside the myocytes. However, neither AQP7 nor AQP9 proteins were expressed in CD1 mouse myocardium. Echocardiography revealed that cardiac function was reduced at 1 week and recovered at 4 weeks after MI, whereas myocardial water content determined by wet-to-dry weight ratio increased at 1 week and rather reduced below the normal at 4 weeks. The expression of cardiac AQPs was up-regulated in MI-induced groups compared with sham-operated control group, but their time-dependent patterns were different. The time course of AQP4 expression coincided with that of myocardial edema and cardiac dysfunction following MI. However, expression of both AQP1 and AQP6 increased persistently up to 4 weeks. Our findings suggest a different role for cardiac AQPs in the formation and reabsorption of myocardial edema after MI.     

Expression and localization of epithelial aquaporins in the adult human lung

Aquaporins (AQPs) facilitate water transport across epithelia and play an important role in normal physiology and disease in the human airways. We used in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence to determine the expression and cellular localization of AQPs 5, 4, and 3 in human airway sections. In nose and bronchial epithelia, AQP5 is expressed at the apical membrane of columnar cells of the superficial epithelium and submucosal gland acinar cells. AQP4 was detected in basolateral membranes in ciliated ducts and by in situ in gland acinar cells. AQP3 is present on basal cells of both superficial epithelium and gland acinus. In these regions AQPs 5, 4, and 3 are appropriately situated to permit transepithelial water permeability. In the small airways (proximal and terminal bronchioles) AQP3 distribution shifts from basal cell to surface expression (i.e., localized to the apical membrane of proximal and terminal bronchioles) and is the only AQP identified in this region of the human lung. The alveolar epithelium has all three AQPs represented, with AQP5 and AQP4 localized to type I pneumocytes and AQP3 to type II cells. This study describes an intricate network of AQP expression that mediates water transport across the human airway epithelium.     

水通道蛋白在鼠肺发育过程中的变化及意义

目的： 探讨水通道蛋白（AQPs）mRNA及蛋白表达在鼠肺发育过程中的变化及意义。方法: 以胎鼠、新生鼠、幼鼠和成年大鼠为研究对象,采用逆转录-聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）和免疫组织化学（SABC）方法分别检测几种主要水通道AQP1、AQP3、AQP4和AQP5 mRNA及蛋白在肺脏的表达和分布;同时测定肺发育过程中一些相关指标,进行对比分析。结果: 大鼠肺发育连续不断,从胎鼠至新生鼠期增长最快,以后增速减慢,为一个动态的过程。肺AQPs mRNA在胎鼠时均开始微量转录,仅出现AQP1蛋白表达,出生后AQPs mRNA及蛋白均快速增加,呈增量表达至成年期。相关性分析显示,AQPs变化与肺发育指标变化存在显著正相关（P<0.05）。结论: AQPs可能参与了大鼠肺发育的诸多重要生理过程。     

p38 MAPK-HSP27信号通路在内毒素致大鼠肺损伤中的作用

 目的：观察p38丝裂原激活蛋白激酶（p38 MAPK)-热休克蛋白27（HSP27）信号通路在急性肺损伤病理过程中的变化规律。方法：健康雄性Wistar大鼠（300~320 g）随机分成正常对照组（A组）、急性肺损伤组（B组）及急性肺损伤+SB203580组（C组）。通过腹腔注射内毒素建立急性肺损伤大鼠模型,分别于实验开始后的0、2、4、6、8 h处死各组大鼠。检测支气管肺泡灌洗液（BALF）白细胞介素6（IL-6）、肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）及BALF中蛋白含量。苏木素-伊红（HE）染色检查肺组织病理变化及免疫荧光方法检测内皮细胞内F-actin和G-actin,计算肺湿干重比值（W/D）。检测肺组织中磷酸化p38 MAPK（p-p38 MAPK）及磷酸化HSP27（p-HSP27）的含量。 结果：B组在实验后2 h BALF中蛋白水平和肺W/D开始明显增加,给予内毒素后8 h肺泡上皮肿胀,肺泡壁增宽,肺泡间质和肺泡腔水肿明显,肺泡内炎症细胞、红细胞和蛋白渗出明显增多,表现出急性肺损伤的病理改变。在给予了p38 MAPK抑制剂SB203580后的C组BALF中蛋白水平及肺W/D分别比B组明显减少,肺泡内炎症细胞、红细胞和蛋白渗出、间质与肺泡水肿均较B组减轻。B组均在实验后2 h血清及BALF中TNF-α和IL-6的浓度开始增加,p-p38 MAPK及p-HSP27的肺内表达开始增加,与A组相比有显著差异。B组实验后8 h的F-actin的表达明显比A组实验后0 h及8 h的增加,给予p38 MAPK抑制剂SB203580的C组肺p-HSP27 和F-actin的表达分别比B组明显减少。结论：内毒素可以通过激活p38 MAPK-HSP27信号通路引起急性肺损伤;阻断该信号通路可以减轻肺损伤。     

Aquaporin gene expression and regulation in the ovine fetal lung

Fetal lung development is dependent upon secretion of liquid into the future airways which must be cleared at birth to establish air-breathing. Aquaporins (AQP) 1, 3, 4 and 5 are membranous water channel proteins that are present in the lung after birth in rodents, with little expression before birth. Our aim was to describe the changes in AQP1, 3, 4 and 5 expression and protein levels in the fetal lung of a long-gestation species (sheep) and in response to physiological factors known to alter fetal lung liquid dynamics. Both mRNA and high protein levels were detected for AQP1, 3, 4 and 5 by day 100 (term is ≈150 days in ovine fetuses). A cortisol infusion (120–131 days) significantly (   P < 0.05  ) increased AQP1 (0.9 ± 0.2 (   n = 4  ) vs. 1.8 ± 0.3 (   n = 5  )) and AQP5 (8.8 ± 0.6 vs. 14.1 ± 1.2) mRNA levels in fetal lung (measured by real-time PCR). Ten days of tracheal obstruction significantly (   P < 0.05  ) decreased AQP5 mRNA levels (6.1 ± 0.9 (   n = 5  ) vs. 2.7 ± 0.3 (   n = 5  )). Immunohistochemistry was used to show that protein levels changed in parallel with the mRNA changes. These findings suggest that AQPs could be involved in lung liquid production and reabsorption during fetal development in long-gestation species.     

Downregulation of aquaporin 5 induced by vector-based short hairpin RNA and its effect on MUC5AC gene expression in human airway submucosal gland cells

The aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of homologous water channels expressed in many epithelial and endothelial cells, however no reliable and non-toxic inhibitors of AQPs have been reported yet. Our researchers have analyzed the changes of AQP5 expression induced by vector-based short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in the human airway submucosal gland cell line (SPC-A1) and observed its regulation on the expression of MUC5AC gene. Localizations of AQP5 and MUC5AC in SPC-A1cells were detected by Immunofluorescence. AQP5 mRNA was significantly reduced by 75.1% one day after transfection with specific shRNA, named shAQP5. However, the significant suppression of AQP5 protein did not appear until day 5 after transfection. MUC5AC mRNA was remarkably increased by 119.9% On day 3 after shAQP5 transfection, while comparable MUC5AC protein changes were not found in SPC-A1 cells with flow cytometry analysis. These results indicate that vector-based shRNA could be used as a potential tool to inhibit the expression of AQP5. This is the first investigation providing evidence demonstrating the regulation of the mucin gene by AQP5 gene silencing.     

亚精胺减轻脂多糖诱导的小鼠急性肺损伤

目的　观察亚精胺（spermidine）对脂多糖（LPS）诱导的急性肺损伤（ALI）的影响。 方法　采用5 mg/kg的LPS经气管滴注,建立ALI小鼠模型。用小动物呼吸机检测亚精胺对ALI小鼠呼吸功能的影响;观察亚精胺对ALI小鼠肺组织形态变化的影响;检测ALI小鼠支气管肺泡灌洗液（BALF）中总蛋白、总细胞数及中性粒细胞数目,并检测髓过氧化物酶（MPO）的水平;qPCR检测ALI小鼠肺组织中TREM-1 mRNA的表达;ELISA检测ALI小鼠BALF中sTREM-1的蛋白水平。 结果　亚精胺可改善ALI小鼠的呼吸功能;减轻LPS诱导的肺部病理损伤;减少蛋白渗出和中性粒细胞浸润;降低ALI小鼠肺内炎症放大受体TREM-1的表达。 结论　亚精胺能减少炎症细胞浸润,抑制炎症因子表达,从而减轻LPS诱导的ALI,其机制可能与亚精胺可抑制ALI小鼠肺组织TREM-1表达有关。     

高迁移率族蛋白1对内毒素急性肺损伤大鼠中性粒细胞凋亡改变的影响

目的 观察体外高迁移率族蛋白1（HMGB1）对内毒素急性肺损伤（ALI）大鼠中性粒细胞（PMN）凋亡改变的影响，以探讨HMGB1在ALI发病机制中的作用。方法 脂多糖注射复制大鼠急性肺损伤模型，在LPS致伤后不同时相点（有或无正丁酸钠干预时）获取肺组织、外周血中性粒细胞（PMN）、支气管肺泡灌洗液（BALF）。RT-PCR检测肺组织HMGB1 mRNA表达，流式细胞术（FCM）、Giemsa染色及TUNEL法检测PMN的凋亡改变。结果 与对照组比较，LPS急性肺损伤大鼠PMN凋亡率逐渐减低，鼠BALF中PMN凋亡开始时间及无存活细胞时间明显延长；LPS致伤后6-24h肺组织HMGB1 mRNA表达明显增高。正丁酸钠（SB）处理组动物肺组织于伤后6、12h肺组织HMGB1 mRNA表达均显著抑制，与LPS组比较，差异有显著性意义（P〈0．05）；形态学检查显示，LPS致伤后大鼠肺组织出现水肿及明显的病理变化，SB干预可减轻肺损伤的严重程度。致伤后肺损伤程度与肺组织HMGB1表达水平及PMN凋亡改变有关。结论 LPS致伤后，鼠肺HMGB1 mRNA高表达发生较晚，但持续较长时间；SB处理可削弱LPS诱导的PMN凋亡延迟及抑制，下调肺组织HMGB1 mRNA表达。HMGB1可能参与内毒素急性肺损伤时PMN的凋亡延迟及抑制效应。     

IL-10抗内毒素气管内滴注致急性肺损伤作用的实验研究关

目的:探讨中性粒细胞(PMN)在急性肺损伤(ALI)发生中的作用及IL-10对ALI的拮抗作用。方法: 用LPS(100 μg/只)或LPS+IL-10(1 μg/只)向SD大鼠气管内滴注复制ALI模型,检测支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中PMN数目、蛋白质及丙二醛(MDA)含量,并进行组织学观察。结果: LPS气管内滴注可引起BALF中PMN数目明显增加,伴有蛋白质及MDA含量的增高,光镜观察显示肺组织间隙弥漫性炎细胞浸润。LPS+IL-10组则BALF中PMN数目、蛋白质及MDA含量显著低于LPS组,肺组织中PMN浸润程度也明显轻。结论: PMN在ALI发病中具有重要作用。IL-10能够拮抗LPS所致ALI的发生。     

CD40 plays a crucial role in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury

Activated alveolar macrophages (AMphi) are known to constitute a critical modulator of the lung inflammatory response through the production of various mediators. However, the role of activated AMphi in acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome is less well known. To address this issue, we examined a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury model for the role of activated AMphi in vivo, focusing on activation through CD40, which is one of the most important pathways for the activation of antigen-presenting cells. Without CD40, LPS-induced ALI was significantly reduced in its histological degree of injury and recruitment of neutrophils into the lung. In addition, the release in the lung of inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, macrophage inflammatory protein 2, or matrix metalloproteinase was significantly reduced in mice deficient in CD40 (CD40KO). To elucidate the mechanism of this attenuation of ALI in CD40KO mice, we studied the function of AMphi ex vivo. AMphi purified from CD40KO mice could not induce expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) by LPS, although iNOS in wild-type AMphi was induced by LPS independently of CD40-CD154 interaction. The loss of surface expression of CD40 was enough to interrupt the expression of iNOS in AMphi in response to LPS. Also based on the tissue nitrotyrosine staining, the reactive oxygen and nitrogen intermediates seemed to be reduced in tissue in CD40KO mice. These results indicated that activation of AMphi through CD40 might be involved not only in amplification by the interaction with CD154 but also in the development of ALI by CD40 itself, and that the functional blockade of CD40 would yield one of the targets for the treatment of LPS-induced ALI and acute respiratory distress syndrome.