Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and its receptor CCR-2 in piglet lungs exposed to inhaled nitric oxide and...

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), acting through its C-C chemokine receptor 2 (CCR-2), has important roles in inflammation, angiogenesis, and wound repair. The individual and combined effects of inhaled nitric oxide (NO) and hyperoxia on lung MCP-1 and CCR-2 in relation to lung leukocyte dynamics are unknown. Because MCP-1 gene is up-regulated by oxidants, we hypothesized that inhaled NO with hyperoxia will increase MCP-1 production and CCR-2 expression more than either gas alone. We randomly assigned young piglets to breathe room air (RA), RA+50 ppm NO (RA+NO), O(2), or O(2)+NO for 1 or 5 d before sacrifice. Lungs were lavaged and tissues preserved for hybridization studies, Western blotting, histology, and immunohistochemistry. The results show that lung MCP-1 production and alveolar macrophage count were significantly elevated in the 5-d O(2) and O(2)+NO groups relative to the RA group (p < or = 0.05). In contrast, lung CCR-2 abundance was diminished in the O(2) group (p