Nitric oxide production by bronchoalveolar cells during allograft rejection in the rat.
BACKGROUND
We reported the increased nitric oxide (NO) level in exhaled air of rat lung transplant recipients during acute rejection (AR). The aim of this study was to determine the site and level of NO production in the rejected graft.


METHODS
Rat lung transplantation was performed in isografts and allografts.


RESULTS
In isografts, no AR and no significant increase in NO production was identified. In allografts, grades I-II of AR was seen on postoperative day (POD) 3 and grade III on POD 5. NO produced by BAL cells increased on both POD 3 (11.8+/-2.0 parts per billion [ppb]) and POD 5 (115.3+/-66.9 ppb). There was a highly significant correlation between the level of NO and the severity of AR (p=0.862, P<0.005). BAL cells from allografts expressed iNOS mRNA. Among them, macrophages, lymphocytes and neutrophils were immunostained for iNOS.


CONCLUSIONS
NO produced by BAL cells was detected in the early stages of rejection. Therefore, it may serve as a sensitive indicator of AR in lung transplantation.
Utsumi
T
T
First Department of Surgery, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Mizuta
T
T
Fujii
Y
Y
Shiono
H
H
Okumura
M
M
Minami
M
M
Takeda
S
S
Miyoshi
S
S
Matsuda
H
H
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001980:Bronchi / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000276:immunology; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D015415:Biomarkers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat