[Role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway in the acute lung injury of severely burned rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathway in the acute lung injury of severely burned rats.


METHODS
Forty-eight adult healthy rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham group, burn control group, and burn + SB203580 group. A third-degree burns over 30% total body surface area rat model was used and pulmonary capillary permeability, lung water content, pulmonary histology and p38 MAPK activity were measured at 24 hours postburn.


RESULTS
Burn trauma resulted in increased pulmonary capillary leakage permeability (42.5 +/- 4.7 vs. 12.1 +/- 1.4, P < 0.01), elevated lung water content (P < 0.05), and worsen histologic condition. There was a significant activation of p38 MAPK at 24 hours postburn compared with control. SB203580 inhibited the activation of p38 MAPK, reduced the pulmonary capillary leakage permeability (24.7 +/- 2.9 vs. 42.5 +/- 4.7, P < 0.01), decreased lung water content, and prevented burn-mediated lung injury.


CONCLUSIONS
The activation of p38 MAPK is one important aspect of the signaling event that contributes to burn-induced lung injury.
Chen
Xu-lin
XL
Department of Burns, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Xia
Zhao-fan
ZF
Wei
Duo
D
Ben
Dao-feng
DF
Wang
Guang-qing
GQ
Han
Sheng
S
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002056:Burns / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles; D011725:Pyridines; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C093642:SB 203580