Protection of reduced glutathione on acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide in mice

【Objective】 To determine the protective effect of reduced glutathione(GSH) on acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS) and its protective mechanism in mice.【Methods】 The Kunming mice were randomly allocated into sham(n =10),LPS groups(n =10),GSH+LPS groups(n =10).LPS was intraperitoneally injected at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight in the LPS group,along with equal volumes of saline in the sham group.Lung biopsies were used for examination of dry/wet(D/W) ratio to compare the levels of lung edema.The pathological changes were examined with light microscope in lung tissues.The NF-κB expression in pulmonary endothelium was assessed by immunohistochemical staining.The level of tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α),inter1eukin-6(IL-6) was detected by ELISA.【Results】 Lung biopsies of rats in group B displayed more leukocytic infiltrate,pulmonary capillary congestion,interstital edema and intraalveolar hemorrhage than those of any other groups,The expressions of the Nuclear factor-κΒ(NF-κB) and TNF-α of group B were significantly higher than those of any other groups.【Conclusions】 Reduced glutathione can play a protective role against LPS-induced acute lung injury,through inhibiting the activation of NF-κB,and release of TNF-α,IL-6.