Preferential recruitment of neutrophils by endothelin-1 in acute lung inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide or cigarette smoke.

St John's University, School of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences, Jamaica, New York 11439, USA.

This study examined the role of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in recruiting inflammatory cells to the lung after induction of injury with either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or cigarette smoke. Hamsters injected with either ET-1 or its precursor peptide (Big ET-1) prior to treatment with LPS or cigarette smoke had markedly increased concentrations of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) despite a reduction in total numbers of BALF leukocytes. Furthermore, the effect of ET-1 on smoke-exposed animals was reversed by addition of an endothelin-A receptor antagonist. These results are consistent with preferential recruitment of neutrophils by ET-1, and suggest that inhibition of this proinflammatory mediator may decrease acute pulmonary inflammation associated with cigarette smoke and other pulmonary toxins.

PMID: 18990977 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]