Blunt chest trauma induces mediator-dependent monocyte migration to the lung

This study was designed to determine whether lung contusion induces an increased pulmonary recruitment of monocytes as a source of alveolar macrophages and which mediators are involved.

Prospective animal study.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to chest trauma by a single blast wave.

Chemokine concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and supernatants of alveolar macrophages, chemokine and chemokine receptor mRNA expressions in monocytes, pulmonary interstitial macrophages, and alveolar macrophages isolated after trauma or sham procedure were evaluated. Immigration of monocytes was determined by staining alveolar macrophages with the fluorescent marker PKH26 before chest trauma. Chemotaxis of naïve monocytes in response to bronchoalveolar lavage or supernatants from alveolar macrophages isolated after trauma or sham procedure and the migratory response of monocytes isolated after trauma/sham to recombinant chemokines were measured.

Chemokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage and alveolar macrophage supernatants and the percentage of monocytes migrated to the lungs were increased after chest trauma. Lung contusion enhanced the mRNA expression for CCR2 in monocytes and interstitial macrophages and for monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in alveolar macrophages. Migration of naïve monocytes vs. bronchoalveolar lavage or alveolar macrophage supernatants from traumatized animals was increased when compared with samples from shams. Monocytes isolated 2 hrs after trauma showed a reduced migration to CINC-1 or monocyte chemotactic protein-1 compared with sham.

Alveolar macrophages seem to contribute to increased chemokine concentrations in alveoli of animals subjected to blunt chest trauma. Mediators released by alveolar macrophage are potent stimuli for monocyte migration. Monocytes alter their chemokine receptor expression and are recruited to the lungs.