Abstract

Background: A number of adhesion molecules are involved in the process of neutrophil infiltration into the lung. P-selectin is one of these neutrophil-endothelial cell adhesion molecules. A study was undertaken to examine the involvement of P-selectin in the development of bleomycin induced inflammation and the ability of N-acetyl-l-cysteine to reduce the potential expression of this selectin in rats.

Methods:N-acetyl-l-cysteine (3 mmol/kg po) was administered daily for seven days prior to bleomycin administration (2.5 U/kg). The kinetics of P-selectin expression and the effect of N-acetyl-l-cysteine after bleomycin treatment were measured using radiolabelled antibodies. P-selectin localisation was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and neutrophil infiltration was assessed by myeloperoxidase activity.

Results: Bleomycin administration resulted in an upregulation of P-selectin at 1 hour, returning to baseline at 3 hours. Myeloperoxidase activity showed a significant increase at 6 hours after bleomycin administration that lasted for 3 days. N-acetyl-l-cysteine treatment completely prevented these increases.

Conclusion: Upregulation of P-selectin in the lung is associated with neutrophil recruitment in response to bleomycin. The beneficial effect of N-acetyl-l-cysteine on bleomycin induced lung injury may be explained in part by the prevention of neutrophil recruitment in the inflammatory stage of the disease.