Effect of interleukin-10 on attenuating endotoxin-induced acute lung injury

AIM: To study the role of polymorphonuclear neutrophile(PMN) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- induced acute lung injury (ALI) and the protective effect of interleukin -10(IL-10) on ALI. METHODS: LPS alone (100μg) or LPS+ IL-10 (l ug) was instilled intratracheally into rats. PMN numbers, protein content and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured. Histological change of lung was also observed. RESULTS: LPS increased significantly PMN numbers, protein content and MDA content in BALF. Histological finding shows PMN accumulation in lung. IL - 10+LPS reduced remarkably PMN numbers ,pro- tein content and MDA content in BALF than those caused by LPS. PMN decreasing was also identified by light microscopy. CONCLUSION: LPS instilled intratracheally causes PMN accumulation in lung and ALI, while IL - 10 could alleviate ALI through reducing PMN accumulation.