Synergism between leukotriene B4 and thromboxane A2 in mediating acid-aspiration injury

Acid aspiration leads to thromboxane-dependent lung neutrophil sequestration associated with microvascular permeability increase. Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is postulated to be a cofactor in the thromboxane-induced inflammatory response. This study tests the interaction between LTB4 and thromboxane, focusing on LTB4 induction of thromboxane-dependent lung neutrophil sequestration after acid aspiration. Anesthetized rats underwent tracheostomy and insertion of a cannula in a left lung segment. This was followed by instillation of either 0.1 ml 0.1N hydrochloric acid (n = 18) or 0.1 ml saline in control rats (n = 18). When assayed at 3 hours, acid aspiration led to increased plasma levels of LTB4 and thromboxane B2 (TxB2), higher than control values (p less than 0.05). The rise in plasma LTB4 was correlated (p less than 0.05; r = 0.83) with sequestration of neutrophils in the nonaspirated lung. The entrapment of thromboxane-dependent lung neutrophil was associated with an increase in protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage of the aspirated and nonaspirated sides and an increase in lung wet to dry weight ratio. Pretreatment of other rats (n = 18) with the lipoxygenase inhibitor diethylcarbamazine IV prevented an aspiration-induced rise in plasma LTB4 and TxB2. Further, there was an attenuation of lung leukosequestration and protein leak in bronchoalveolar lavage and lung edema (all p less than 0.05). Pretreatment of other rats (n = 12) with the leukotriene receptor antagonist FPL 55712 IV did not prevent the aspiration-induced rise in LTB4 or TxB2, but otherwise was as effective as diethylcarbamazine in preventing injury. Finally, other hydrochloric acid-aspirated rats (n = 8) were pretreated intravenously with the thromboxane synthetase inhibitor OKY 046 or the thromboxane receptor antagonist SQ 29548. Both agents limited the aspiration-induced rise in plasma LTB4 (p less than 0.05). The data indicate that localized acid aspiration induces synthesis of LTB4 and thromboxane A2. Inhibition of either leukotriene or thromboxane will limit PMN adhesion and increased lung permeability.