The role of keratinocyte-derived chemokine in hemorrhage-induced acute lung injury in mice.

Dominant inflammatory cytokines might be different depending on the underlying causes of acute lung injury (ALI). The role of kertinocyte-derived chemokine (KC), a potent chemoattractant for neutrophils, has not been clearly established in hemorrhage-induced ALI. In this study, lung injury and cytokine expression were evaluated in LPS- or hemorrhage-induced ALI models of BALB/c mice. The myeloperoxidase activities at 4 hr after hemorrhage and LPS-injection were 47.4+/-13.0 and 56.5+/-16.4 U/g, respectively. NF-kappaB activity peaked at 4 hr after hemorrhage, which was suppressed to the control level by anti-high mobility group B1 (HMGB1) antibody. Lung expressions of TNF-alpha, MIP-2, and IL-1beta were increased by LPS injection. However, there was only a minimal increase in IL-1beta and no expressions of TNF-alpha or MIP-2 in hemorrhage-induced ALI. In contrast, lung KC increased significantly at 4 hr after hemorrhage compared to control levels (83.1+/-12.3 vs. 14.2+/-1.6 pg/mL/mg by ELISA) (P<0.05). By immunohistochemical staining, lung neutrophils stained positive for KC. Increased KC was also observed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and plasma. KC plays an important role in hemorrhage-induced ALI.