Role of TNF-α and IL-8 in the Inflammatory of Ventilator Induced Lung Injury in Young Rabbit Model

Objective To investigate the role of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interlukin-8 (IL-8) in the inflammatory young rabbit model with ventilator induced lung injury(VILI). Methods A young rabbit model of mechanical ventilation was established with different tidal volumes, respectively. Twenty-seven healthy young rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: control group (no ventilation), low tidal volume group and high tidal vo- lume group. The mRNA expressions and contents of inflammatory cytokines from the lung homogenates were measured by RT-PCR and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Meanwhile myeloperoxidease (MPO) from the lung homogenates, lung wet/dry weight and pathological changes in each group were assessed. Results In the group of high tidal volume, the contents and expression of TNF-α and IL-8 were increased significantly compared with the low tidal volume group and the control group (P0.01). The content and expression of TNF-α reached the peak level at 4 h and then decreased at 6 h after ventilation, however, the content and expression of IL-8 reached the peak at 6 h, the increaseof IL-8 was noted after the high value of TNF-α. MPO from lung tissue and lung wet/dry weight were significantly higher in high tidal volume group than those in both low tidal volume group and control group (P0.01). Histologically, there was obvious lung injury in the group of low tidal volume, however, there was no obvious injury in control group. Conclusion TNF-α and IL-8 played an important role in the inflammatory young rabbit model of VILI.