Objective To monitor the systemic gene expression profile in a murine model of li-popolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury by the recently modified long serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) so as to discuss the molecular mechanism of acute lung injury. Methods Acute lung injury was induced by intra-tracheal injection of LPS (25 mg/kg). Control mice were given normal saline in same volume. Animals were killed at 24 hours after the administration of LPS and lungs were harvested en bloc for SAGE study. Results A total of 24 670 tags representing 12 168 transcripts in the control mice and 26 378 tags representing 13 397 transcripts in the mice with lung injury were identified respectively. There were 11 transcripts increased more than 10 folds, 107 transcripts 5-10 folds and 2 121 transcripts 2-5 folds in the LPS-treated mice. But seven transcripts decreased to 1/10, 87 transcripts to 1/10-1/5 and 1 571 transcripts to 1/5-1/2. The most overexpressed genes in the lung injury mice mainly included serum amyloid A 3, metallothionein 2, lipocalin 2, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A, lactate dehydrogenase 1 , melatonin receptor, SI00 calcium-binding protein A9 and natriuretic pep-tide precursor. Mitogen activated protein kinase 3, serum albumin, complement component 1 inhibitor, and ATP synthase were underexpressed in the lung injury mice. Conclusion The changes of various genes as well as some unreported genes have been confirmed in the LPS-induced acute lung injury. Further studies of these unreported genes are beneficial to better understanding the mechanism of acute lung injury and may provide useful markers for clinical diagnosis.

OBJECTIVESMucosal immunity plays a pivotal role for body defense against infection and allergy. The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of 2,3,7,8-tetraclorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on mucosal immunity in the gut.

METHODSFecal IgA level and oral tolerance induction were examined in TCDD-treated mice. Flow cytometric and histological analyses were also performed.

RESULTSSingle oral administration of low dose 2,3,7,8-TCDD resulted in a marked decrease in IgA secretion in the gut without any effects on the cellular components of gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) including Peyer's patches (PPs) and mesenteric lymph nodes (LNs). Decressed IgA secretion by TCDD was not observed in aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-deficient mice. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that IgA B cells in PPs and the mesenteric LNs remained unchanged in the TCDD-treated mice. An immunofluorescence study also demonstrated that a significant number of cytoplasmic IgA cells were present in the lamina propria of the gut in the TCDD-treated mice. Furthermore, oral tolerance induction by ovalbumin (OVA) was impaired in the TCDD-treated mice and OVA-specific T cell proliferation occurred in the peripheral lymphoid tissues including the spleen and LNs.

CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that a relatively low dose of TCDD impairs mucosal immunity in the gut and induces systemic sensitization by oral antigens.