Circulating factors that modify lung cell DNA synthesis following exposure to inhaled oxidants. II. Effect of serum and lavage on lung pneumocytes following exposure of adult rats to 1 ppm ozone.

Adult rats were exposed to 1 ppm (1.96 mg/m3) ozone or air for 2 wk. Animals were sacrificed at 3, 5, 7, or 14 d after the onset of exposure, and samples of plasma and lung lavage were obtained. Heat-inactivated plasma and lavage from animals exposed to ozone for 5 or 7 d significantly increased DNA synthesis by lung pneumocytes compared with plasma or lavage from air-exposed animals. Fractionation of plasma and lavage samples indicated that the factor responsible had an isoelectric point of 6.45-6.75, and a molecular weight of 38 +/- 3 kDa. This factor has a dose-dependent effect on lung pneumocyte DNA synthesis in culture. It has no effect on cultured fibroblast DNA synthesis, and is distinct from a previously described factor in the plasma of these ozone-exposed animals that enhances fibroblast DNA synthesis. The factor is detectable within 5 d of exposure, and may hold some promise as a marker of early oxidant lung injury.