Role of TNF-alpha in lung tight junction alteration in mouse model of acute lung inflammation

Respir Res. 2007 Oct 30;8(1):75. doi: 10.1186/1465-9921-8-75.

Abstract

In the present study, we used tumor necrosis factor-R1 knock out mice (TNF-alpha R1KO) to understand the roles of TNF-alpha on epithelial function in models of carrageenan-induced acute lung inflammation. In order to elucidate whether the observed anti-inflammatory status is related to the inhibition of TNF-alpha, we also investigated the effect of etanercept, a TNF-alpha soluble receptor construct, on lung TJ function. Pharmacological and genetic TNF-alpha inhibition significantly reduced the degree of (1) TNF-alpha production in pleural exudates and in the lung tissues, (2) the inflammatory cell infiltration in the pleural cavity as well as in the lung tissues (evaluated by MPO activity), (3) the alteration of ZO-1, Claudin-2, Claudin-4, Claudin-5 and beta-catenin (immunohistochemistry) and (4) apoptosis (TUNEL staining, Bax, Bcl-2 expression). Taken together, our results demonstrate that inhibition of TNF-alpha reduces the tight junction permeability in the lung tissues associated with acute lung inflammation, suggesting a possible role of TNF-alpha on lung barrier dysfunction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis
  • Blood-Air Barrier / drug effects
  • Blood-Air Barrier / metabolism*
  • Blood-Air Barrier / pathology
  • Capillary Permeability
  • Carrageenan
  • Claudin-4
  • Claudin-5
  • Claudins
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / pathology
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Epithelial Cells / pathology
  • Etanercept
  • Immunoglobulin G / pharmacology
  • Lung / blood supply
  • Lung / drug effects
  • Lung / metabolism*
  • Lung / pathology
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neutrophil Infiltration
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • Pleurisy / chemically induced
  • Pleurisy / metabolism*
  • Pleurisy / pathology
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I / deficiency
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I / genetics
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I / metabolism*
  • Tight Junctions / drug effects
  • Tight Junctions / metabolism*
  • Tight Junctions / pathology
  • Time Factors
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism*
  • Zonula Occludens-1 Protein
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • CTNNB1 protein, mouse
  • Claudin-4
  • Claudin-5
  • Claudins
  • Cldn2 protein, mouse
  • Cldn4 protein, mouse
  • Cldn5 protein, mouse
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I
  • Tjp1 protein, mouse
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Zonula Occludens-1 Protein
  • beta Catenin
  • Carrageenan
  • Etanercept