Protective effect of Ulinastatin on acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide in mice

Objective To investigate the protective effect of Ulinastatin (UTI) on acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and its protective mechanism in mice.Methods The Kunming mice were randomly divided into sham group (group A,n =10),LPS group (group B,n =10),UTI +LPS group (group C,n =10).LPS was intraperitoneally injected at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight in the LPS group,along with equal volumes of saline in the sham group.Lung biopsy was used for examination of dry/wet (D/W) ratio to compare the levels of lung edema.The pathological changes in lung tissues were examined by light microscope.The NF-kB expression in pulmonary endothelium was assessed by immunohistochemical staining.The levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha ( TNF-α),interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected by ELISA.Results Lung biopsy of rats in group B displayed more leukocytic infiltrate,pulmonary capillary congestion,interstital edema and intraalveolar hemorrhage than any other groups,The expressions of the NF-kB,IL-6 and TNF-α of group B were significantly higher than those of any other groups.Conclusions Ulinastatin can play a protective role against LPS-induced acute lung injury,through inhibiting the activation of NF-kB,and releasing of TNF-α,IL-6. Key words: Ulinastatin ;  Lipopolysaccharide;  Lung injury