Hypoxia reoxygenation-induced injury of cultured pulmonary microvessel endothelial cells

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) sequestration within the pulmonary microvasculature is known to occur in association with ischemia/reoxygenation (I/R). This sequestration is dependent on eicosanoids and reactive oxygen species. PMN sequestration within the lungs suggests that pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (MECs) may in part regulate the I/R response. Simulating I/R, we examined the effect of hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) on pulmonary MECs in vitro, with and without PMNs. Significant cellular injury, assessed by 51Cr release, occurred upon reoxygenation of MECs (P < .01). Addition of PMNs to the H/R-injured monolayers did not increase MEC injury. Reoxygenation of MECs also resulted in increased thromboxane (Tx) B2 production compared to controls (P < .01). Inhibition of Tx secretion by aspirin reduced H/R-induced PMN adhesion to MECs (P < .01). Furthermore, H/R-induced increases in PMN-MEC adhesion were prevented by allopurinol and superoxide dismutase (P < .01). These data suggest that the pulmonary response to H/R is mediated by MEC generation of reactive oxygen radical species and Tx, which promotes increased PMN adhesion.