Glycosaminoglycan synthesis in endotoxin-induced lung injury.

Endotoxin-induced lung injury has previously been shown to produce lesions that resemble emphysema morphologically and biochemically as demonstrated by the reduction in the content of lung elastin. The purpose of this study was to define the changes in one other connective tissue component, glycosaminoglycans, during the acute phase of the lung injury. Intravenous administration of a single dose of endotoxin in rats resulted in an increase in the total synthesis of glycosaminoglycans by the pulmonary parenchyma. There was a significant increase in the proportion of dermatan sulfate synthesized during the first 48 hr and a concomitant decrease in heparin/heparan sulfate synthesis. At 48 hr the increased synthesis of dermatan sulfate had reached 7.3 times control values and began to decline, whereas the synthesis of chondroitin-4-sulfate rose from 4.1 to 10.7 times control values between 48 and 72 hr. Analysis of the rates of synthesis revealed that the total amount of heparin/heparan sulfate remained constant while the synthesis of chondroitin-6-sulfate increased proportionally to the overall synthesis of glycosaminoglycans. These findings indicate that dramatic changes in glycosaminoglycan synthesis are an integral part of endotoxin lung injury.