FR167653 attenuates ischemia and reperfusion injury of the rat lung with suppressing p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase

Background: FR167653 is a potent suppressant of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin-1 (IL-1) production, and was shown to attenuate ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) organ injury in our previous experiment. Because p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase has been reported to regulate the production of TNF-alpha and IL-1, we examined the effects of FR167653 in the rat lung I/R model and determined the expression and activation of p38 MAP kinase.

Methods: Experiment 1: After 1 hour of ischemia, p38 MAP kinase, phosphorylated p38 MAP kinase (active form), histologic changes of the lung, and serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta were examined. Experiment 2: After 2 hours of reperfusion, arterial oxygen content (PaO(2)) and saturation (SaO(2)), serum TNF-alpha and IL-1beta levels, and histologic changes in the lung were examined. Rats were divided into three groups in Experiment 1. In the control group, a saline solution was administered and, in the FR group, 0.1 mg/kg per hour of FR167653 was administered, intravenously throughout the experiment, beginning 30 minutes before ischemia. In the non-ischemic group, samples were taken soon after thoracotomy. The rats were divided into control and FR groups in Experiment 2.

Results: Experiment 1: One hour of ischemia induced almost no changes in the lung or serum cytokine levels. Meanwhile, FR167653 markedly attenuated the expression of phosphorylated p38 MAP kinase. Experiment 2: SaO(2) and PaO(2) were improved, serum cytokines were lower, and lung damage was less extensive in the FR group than in the control group.

Conclusion: FR167653 attenuates I/R injury of the lung and this attenuation is associated with suppression of p38 MAP kinase activation.