Hyperoxia stimulates alveolar macrophages to produce and release a factor which increases neutrophil adherence.

Hyperoxia stimulates alveolar macrophages (AM) to make and release a factor which increases neutrophil adherence to nylon fiber. Production of the neutrophil adherence-stimulating factory by AM exposed to hyperoxia is maximal after AM have been exposed to hyperoxia for 72 h and requires protein synthesis by intact AM. The adherence factor is heat-labile and by column chromatography elutes in a molecular-weight range of approximately 8000-18,000 daltons. The lungs of animals exposed to hyperoxia and contribute to neutrophil-mediated lung injury from hyperoxia.