[NOS-2 induction in rat lungs after Escherichia coli lupopolisaccharide administration]

Endotoxin-induced acute lung injury may be differently modulated by nitric oxide, dependently on the phase of endotoxemia as well as on the amounts and cellular source of this free radical. We investigated rapid (within 1 hr) increase of NOS-2 mRNA and activity in rat lungs following endotoxin treatment. The increase of lung NOS-2 correlated with LPS-induced pulmonary neutrophil sequestration. Sequestrated leukocytes seem to be responsible for rapid NOS-2 induction in lung tissue after LPS treatment. The pathophysiological role of this phenomenon requires further clarification.