Mannose prevents lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in rats

Objective: To investigate the effect of mannose on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats. Methods: Ten groups of Sprague–Dawley rats were used: 1) the control group received an intratracheal instillation of saline, 2) the LPS group received an intratracheal instillation of LPS (3 mg/kg), 3–6) the mannose groups were injected i.v. with 15, 45, 135, and 405 mg/kg mannose, 7–9) the glucose, galactose, and fructose groups were injected with different hexoses (135 mg/kg), and 10) the dexamethasone (DXM) group was injected with DXM (2 mg/kg). In groups 2–8, LPS was administered after injection of drugs. Lung wet/dry weight ratio, permeability index (PPI), total leukocytes and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-10 in lung and BALF were determined. Results: Pre-treatment with mannose attenuated pulmonary edema and protein exudation in a dose-dependent manner, the maximal effect was similar to or greater than that of DXM. Mannose also prevented the inflammatory cell accumulation, although the maximal effect was weaker than that of DXM. Mannose was more effective than DXM in inhibiting MPO activity and restoring SOD activity. Moreover, it inhibited production of TNF-α and IL-10. Histological changes of the lungs were also ameliorated by mannose. There were no significant improvements observed in rats pre-treated with glucose, galactose or fructose. Conclusions: Mannose is effective in reducing LPS-induced ALI. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30670930 and the Science and Technology Department of Zhejiang Province (No.2004C23011) Received 4 March 2007; returned for revision 13 May 2007; returned for final revision 17 July 2007; accepted by M. Katori 12 September 2007