Ventilation-induced neutrophil infiltration depends on c-Jun N-terminal kinase

Positive pressure ventilation with large VTs has been shown to cause release of cytokines, including macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), a functional equivalent of human interleukin-8. The mechanisms regulating ventilation-induced cytokine production are unclear. Based on our previous in vitro model of lung cell stretch, we hypothesized that high VT ventilation-induced MIP-2 production is dependent on the activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). We exposed C57BL/6 mice to high VT (30 ml/kg) or low VT (6 ml/kg) mechanical ventilation for 5 hours. High VT ventilation-induced neutrophil migration into the lung, MIP-2 protein production, MIP-2 messenger RNA expression, and JNK activation. Large VT ventilation of JNK knockout mice and pharmacologic JNK inhibition with SP600125 attenuated neutrophil sequestration and blocked MIP-2 messenger RNA expression and MIP-2 production. We conclude that lung cell stretch in vivo results in increased lung neutrophil sequestration and increased MIP-2 production, which was, at least in part, dependent upon the JNK pathway.