The role of neutrophil collagenase in endotoxic acute lung injury.

The aim of this study was to determine the role of neutrophil collagenase in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury induced by endotoxin. 28 Sprague-Dawley were randomized into control group and LPS-enduced groups. Samples of left lung were obtained in 2 h (group L1), 6 h (group L2), 12 h (group L3) after intravenous LPS. Immunohistochemsitry was employed for detection of expression of neutrophil collagenase. Pathological scores, lung wet/dry weight ratio and the number of neutrophils were measured. The results showed that the concentration of neutrophil collagenase in LPS-enduced groups (group L1, L2, L3) were significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.01). Pathological scores, lung wet/dry weight ratio and the number of neutrophils in LPS-enduced groups (group L1, L2, L3) were also significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.01). Moreover, among group L1, L2 and L3, there were significant correlations in concentration of neutrophil collagenase and pathological scores, lung wet/dry weight ratio, the number of neutrophils (P<0.05). The present study showed that neutrophil collagenase play an important role in the pathogenesis and progress of endotoxic acute lung injury.