Cell injuries of the blood-air barrier in acute lung injury caused by perfluoroisobutylene exposure.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the complete process of cell injuries in the blood-air barrier after perfluoroisobutylene (PFIB) exposure.


METHODS
Rats were exposed to PFIB (140 mg/m(3)) for 5 min. The pathological changes were evaluated by lung wet-to-dry weight ratio, total protein concentration of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and HE stain. Ultrastructural changes were observed by transmission electron microscope. Apoptosis was detected by in situ apoptosis detection. Changes of actin in the lung tissue were evaluated by western blot assay.


RESULTS
No significant pulmonary edema or increased permeability was observed within the first 4 h, post PFIB exposure. However, inflammatory cell infiltration and alveolar wall thickening were observed from 2 h. Destruction of the alveoli constitution integrity, edema and protein leakage were observed at 8 h. The injuries culminated at 24 h and then recovered gradually. The ultrastructural injuries of alveolar type I epithelial cells, alveolar type II epithelial cells and pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells were observed at 30 min post PFIB exposure. Some injuries were similar to apoptosis. Compared with control, more serious injuries were observed in PFIB-exposed rats after 30 min. At 8 h, some signs of cell necrosis were observed. The injuries culminated at 24 h and then ameliorated. The number of apoptotic cells abnormally increased at 30 min post PFIB exposure, the maximum appeared at 24 h, and then ameliorated gradually. Western blot analysis revealed that the level of actin in the lung showed no significant changes within the first 4 h post PFIB exposure. However, it decreased at 8 h, reached a nadir at 24 h, and then recovered gradually.


CONCLUSIONS
The pathological processes were in progress persistently post PFIB exposure. The early injuries probably were the result of the direct attack of PFIB and the advanced injuries probably arose from the inflammatory reaction induced by PFIB.
Meng
Ge
G
Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China.
Zhao
Jian
J
Wang
He-Mei
HM
Ding
Ri-Gao
RG
Zhang
Xian-Cheng
XC
Huang
Chun-Qian
CQ
Ruan
Jin-Xiu
JX
D000199:Actins / Q000187:drug effects; D000208:Acute Disease; D055371:Acute Lung Injury / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015824:Blood-Air Barrier / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000199:Actins; D005466:Fluorocarbons; C016648:perfluoroisobutylene