Enhanced Production of Monokines by Canine Alveolar Macrophages in Response to Endotoxin-Induced Shock

Abstract The enhanced production of soluble mediators by alveolar macrophages may be responsible for promoting lung injury in canines administered endotoxin. One of the most prominent monokines, interleukin 1 (IL-1), has the potential to significantly influence the responses of host tissues. In this study we analyzed alveolar macrophages from canines that were experimentally administered endotoxin (AMEC) for their ability to produce IL-1. When concentrated AMEC supernatants from in vitro cultures were incubated with fresh C3H/HEJ thymocytes, a threefold greater incorporation of [3H]thymidine resulted as compared to the response produced by controls. Heat treatment of the experimental preparations ablated this difference. Conversely, the activity of AMEC intracellular lysates did not significantly differ from the controls. Silver-staining the preparations separated by SDS-PAGE revealed a low-molecular-weight species (17 kD) in the AMEC supernatant lane while a similar molecular distribution was absent in all of the control preparations examined. Moreover, using the L929 cell line in a cytolytic bioassay we found that these same AMEC supernatants also contained significantly elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor. Collectively, this study suggests that during endotoxin-induced canine lung injury, the alveolar macrophages generate soluble species that can substantially regulate the hosts cellular response. This activity in the canine lung may play a critical role in the development and/or maintenance of the pathology associated with exposure to endotoxin.