Interleukin-1B(1L-1B) polymorphisms and gastric mucosal levels of IL-Iβ cytokine in Korean patients with gastric cancer

Chang, Young-Woon,Jang, Jae-Young,Kim, Nam-Hoon,Lee, Jae Won,Lee, Hyo Jung,Jung, Woon Won,Dong, Seok-Ho,Kim, Hyo-Jong,Kim, Byung-Ho,Lee, Joung-Il,Rin Chang KYUNG HEE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER 2006 고황의학상 수상논문집 Vol.21-22 No.-

Interleukin-1B and IL-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphisms are associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer (GC) in Caucasian populations. However, recent studies could not find any association between IL-1B-511T polymorphism and the risk of GC in Asians. We tested for an association between IL-1 loci polymorphisms with increased gastric mucosal levels of IL-1β and an increased risk of developing GC in a Korean population. Polymorphisms of IL-1A-889, IL-1B-31, IL-1B-511 and IL-1RN were genotyped in 434 controls and 234 patients with GC. Mucosal IL-1β cytokine was measured using an ELISA. The frequencies of IL-1A, IL-1B-511, IL-1B-31 and IL-1RN were not statistically different between controls and all patients with GC. After subclassification of GC, only patients with intestinal-type GC showed a higher frequency of IL-1B-31T homozygotes (OR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.1-4.3) compared with controls. Risk was also significantly increased in these patients for IL-1B-31T homozygotes compared with patients with diffuse-type GC (OR = 3.4; 95% CI = 1.5-7.7). As in Caucasian populations, linkage disequilibrium between IL-1B-31 and IL-1B-511 was nearly complete, but the pattern of haplotype related to the risk of GC (IL-1B-31T/IL-1B-511C) was opposite (IL-1B-511T/IL-1B-31C). Mucosal IL-1β levels in H. pylori-infected GC patients were higher in patients homozygous for IL-1B-31T compared with IL-1B-31C/T and IL-1B-31C/C. Thus, the combined effects of H. pylori infection and IL-1B-31T/IL-1B-511C polymorphisms with enhanced mucosal IL-1β production contributed to the development of intestinal-type GC in this Korean population.

화상환자에서 면역억제 기전

정태호,황일우,장수일,김문규,서정민,정치영,김정철 慶北大學校 醫科大學 1995 慶北醫大誌 Vol.36 No.4

목적 : 본 연구는 화상환자에서 면역이상의 기전을 조사코져 T-세포의 활성을 나타내는 가용성 interleukin-2 수용체(IL-2R), 대식세포의 활성을 나타내는 neopterin, tumor necrosis factor(TNF) 및 interleukin-6 (IL-6), 그리고 호중구의 활성을 반영하는 elastase-α1-antitrypsin을 측정하였다. 또한 lipopolysaccharide(LPS)가 이들 면역세포의 활성화에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 30예의 화상환자를 대상으로 화상후 1일, 7일, 14일, 21일, 28일에 각각 혈액을 채취하여 혈청중 가용성 IL-2R, TNF, IL-6, 그리고 elastase-α1-antitrypsin은 각각 효소면역법으로, 혈청중 neopterin은 radioimmunoassay법으로 측정하였다. LPS가 말초 단핵세포에 미치는 영향은 역전사 중합효소 연쇄반응을 통하여 각종 cytokines의 mRNA 발현을 측정하였다. 결과 : 화상환자에서 혈청중 가용성 IL-2R은 화상후 1일째부터 대조군에 비하여 유의성 있게 증가되어 7일과 14일째에 최고치를 나타냈으며 그 이후에는 다소 감소하였으나 대조군보다는 유의한 증가를 나타냈다. 화상환자를 중화상, 중등도화상, 경도화상으로 분류하여 혈청중 가용성 IL-2R 치를 비교해본 결과 중증 화상일수록 더욱 높은 치를 나타냈다. 화상환자에서 혈청중 neopterin 역시 화상후 1일째부터 증가되어 전 관찰기간 동안 대조군에 비해 유의한 높은 치를 나타냈다. 경도화상과 중등도 화상에서는 서로 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았으나 중환자에서는 경도 혹은 중등도 화상환자에 비해 유의한 증가를 보였다. 화상환자에서 혈청중 TNF 농도는 화상후 1일부터 증가되어 관찰전기간에 걸쳐 유의한 증가를 나타냈으며 중등도 화상환자에서 가장 높은 치를 보였다. 혈청중 IL-6치 역시 화상 전기간에 걸쳐 대조군보다 유의한 증가를 나타냈으며 중화상 환자에서 가장 높은 치를 나타냈다. 화상은 또한 혈청중 elastase-α1-antitrypsin 농도를 현저히 증가시켰다. 즉 화상후 1일에 elastase-α1-antitrypsin 농도는 정상인보다 5배 높았으며 그 이후 약 4주간 계속 높은 농도를 유지하다가 환자가 회복되면서 감소하는 경향을 나타내었다. 중등도화상 및 중화상환자의 혈청중 elastase-α1-antitrypsin 농도는 경도 화상환자에서 비해 유의한 증가를 보였다. 한편 화상환자에서 면역이상을 초래하는 주된 요인으로 여겨지는 lipopolysaccharide는 면역세포를 총체적으로 활성화시켜 IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF, IFN-γ, TGF-β, GM-CSF, IL-2R의 유전자발현을 현저히 증가시켰다. 결론 : 화상환자에서 T-세포, 대식세포, 호중구의 활성화를 반영하는 가용성 IL-2R, neopterin, ,TNF, IL-6, elastase-α1-antitrypsin치가 혈중에 증가되어 있으며 화상의 정도가 심할수록 더 높았다. Cell-mediated immunity frequently becomes severely impaired after thermal injury. However, the cause of postburn immune dysfunction is unclear and controversy exists over both pathophysiology and clinical relevance of these abnormalities. This study was undertaken to investigate the immune responses in vivo of patients with burn. Levels of soluble IL-2R, a sensitive marker of T-cell activation, levels of serum TNF, IL-6, and neopterin, an index of macrophage activation, and levels of serum elastase-α1-antitrypsin, an index of neutrophil activation, were measured in serial serum samples taken from 30 burned patients. In patients with burn, soluble IL-2R levels were increased over a 4-week interval with peak concentrations reached during the 2nd week after burn. Patients with severe burn showed a higher soluble IL-2R levels than those with mild or moderate burn. In addition soluble IL-2R significantly correlated with burn size. The levels of serum neopterin were already increased at the first day following burn, and remained at a high level throughout the total period studied (28 days). Patients with severe burn showed significantly higher concentration of serum neopterin than mild or moderate burn. There was positive relationship between the burn sizes and the levels of neopterin. A significant positive correlation was also found between serum soluble IL-2R levels and neopterin levels in burn patients. Levels of serum TNF and IL-6 were also significantly increased over a 4-week interval in burn patients. The levels of serum elastase-α1-antitrypsin were also already increased at the first day following burn, and remained at a high level over a 4-week. Patients with moderate or severe burn showed significantly higher concentration of serum elastase-α1-antitrypsin than those with mild burn. There was no significant relationship between the burn extent and the level of elastase-α1-antitrypsin. LPS increased the transcription of all the cytokines we examined in peripheral mononuclear cells, i.e., IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5_IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF, TGF-β, GM-CSF, and IL-2R. We conclude that soluble IL-2R, neopterin, TNF, IL-6, and elastase-α1-antitrypsin might be useful parameters for monitoring of the clinical course in burn patients. Moreover, they indicate that T-cell, macrophage, and neutrophil activation might play the central role in the pathogenesis of the immuno-logic and metabolic disturbance that follows thermal injury.

The Correlation of Serum IL-12B Expression With Disease Activity in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Lee, Hye Won,Chung, Sook Hee,Moon, Chang Mo,Che, Xiumei,Kim, Seung Won,Park, Soo Jung,Hong, Sung Pil,Kim, Tae Il,Kim, Won Ho,Cheon, Jae Hee Williams & Wilkins Co 2016 Medicine Vol.95 No.23

<▼1><P>Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text</P></▼1><▼2><P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>Genetic variants in <I>IL12B</I>, encoding the p40 subunit common in interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interleukin-23, were identified as the susceptibility loci for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study aimed to identify the correlation of serum IL-12B expression with disease activity in patients with IBD and evaluate the possibility of IL-12B as a biomarker for assessing inflammatory status in IBD.</P><P>A total of 102 patients with IBD, including 38, 32, and 32 patients with Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and intestinal Behçet's disease (intestinal BD), respectively, were included. The clinical and laboratory data from the patients were collected at the time of serum IL-12B measurement. Serum IL-12B levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.</P><P>The median IL-12B levels in patients with CD, UC, and intestinal BD were significantly higher than those in controls (1.87, 2.74, and 2.73 pg/mL, respectively, vs. 1.42 pg/mL, all <I>P</I> <0.05). IL-12B concentrations were associated with disease activity in patients with UC and intestinal BD but not in those with CD. IL-12B levels were increased with increasing disease activity in patients with UC (<I>P</I> <0.001). Likewise, patients with active intestinal BD had higher IL-12B levels than those without active disease (<I>P</I> = 0.008). IL-12B levels were correlated with the endoscopic disease activity of UC (<I>P</I> = 0.002) and intestinal BD (<I>P</I> = 0.001) but not that of CD.</P><P>Serum IL-12B levels were significantly correlated with clinical and endoscopic disease activity in patients with UC and intestinal BD, suggesting its potential use as a biomarker for assessing disease activity in these patients.</P></▼2>

Genetic effect of <i>CCR3</i> and <i>IL5RA</i> gene polymorphisms on eosinophilia in asthmatic patients

Lee, June-Hyuk,Chang, Hun Soo,Kim, Ji Hyun,Park, Se-Min,Lee, Yong Mok,Uh, Soo Taek,Rhim, Taiyoun,Chung, Il Yup,Kim, Yong-Hoon,Park, Byung Lae,Park, Choon-Sik,Shin, Hyoung Doo Elsevier 2007 The journal of allergy and clinical immunology Vol.120 No.5

<P><B>Background</B></P><P>Eosinophilic infiltration and peripheral blood eosinophilia in asthma require the cooperation of eosinophil-specific cytokines and chemokines and their receptors.</P><P><B>Objective</B></P><P>We investigated the association of polymorphisms in <I>CCR3</I> and <I>IL5RA</I> with asthma susceptibility or peripheral blood eosinophilia and the effects of the polymorphisms on receptor expression.</P><P><B>Methods</B></P><P>Polymorphisms in <I>CCR3</I> and <I>IL5RA</I> were identified and genotyped in 576 asthmatic patients and 180 healthy control subjects. CCR3 and IL-5 receptor α (IL-5Rα) protein expression on eosinophils was measured by means of flow cytometry.</P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>Although polymorphisms in <I>CCR3</I> were not associated with asthma susceptibility, the <I>CCR3</I> haplotype <I>ht2</I> showed a negative gene dose effect on the eosinophil count (<I>P</I> = .003–.009). <I>IL5RA c.−5091G>A</I> was weakly associated with eosinophil count. The effects of <I>ht2</I> were greater when paired with <I>IL5RA c.−5091A</I> (<I>P</I> = .001–.002). CCR3 protein expression was higher on eosinophils of asthmatic patients without <I>ht2</I> than in those with <I>ht2</I>. Asthmatic patients with the <I>IL5RA c.−5091A</I> allele showed higher IL-5Rα expression than those who were homozygous for the G allele.</P><P><B>Conclusion</B></P><P>The genetic association between <I>CCR3</I> polymorphisms and the number of circulating eosinophils was revealed as a novel finding. These associations were more pronounced when the <I>CCR3</I> polymorphisms were paired with polymorphisms in <I>IL5RA</I>. The protein expression levels of CCR3 and IL-5Rα on peripheral blood eosinophils are associated with the polymorphisms on their own genes.</P><P><B>Clinical implications</B></P><P>The identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotypes of <I>CCR3</I> and <I>IL5RA</I> might be useful in developing markers for intermediate phenotypes of eosinophil number and in designing strategies to control diseases related to hypereosinophilia.</P>

Long second toe: its nail and skin changes

( Geun-hwi Park ),( Woo-il Kim ),( Min-young Yang ),( Won-ku Lee ),( Tae-wook Kim ),( Sung-min Park ),( Hyun-joo Lee ),( Gun-wook Kim ),( Hoon-soo Kim ),( Hyun-chang Ko ),( Byung-soo Kim ),( Moon-bum 대한피부과학회 2018 대한피부과학회 학술발표대회집 Vol.70 No.2

Background: Nail can be affected by trauma, infection, and systematic disorders. In particular, the toe nails are exposed to the repeated and cumulative minor traumas, which usually result in thickened, splitted, and discolorated nails. Considering these, it can be inferred that the long second toe can be related to various nail and skin changes by repeated minor traumas such as friction in shoes, but the study or report on this topic hasn’t been done yet. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to introduce various nail and skin changes on long second toe. Methods: We analyzed the kinds of nail/skin changes of 50 patients with long second toe, enrolled at Pusan National University Hospitals (Busan and Yangsan) from 2013 to 2018. Results: There was no significant difference in the incidence of left and right toe and toenail, and 7 (14%) patients presented bilateral distribution. The most common nail change on long second toe was melanonychia (23, 46%), followed by subungual hematoma (15, 30%), onycholysis (2, 4%), subungual hyperkeratosis (2, 4%), onychomadesis (1, 2%), and retronychia (1, 2%). The most common skin change was corn (9, 18%), followed by paronychia (2, 4%). Twenty (20/50, 40%) patients also had other toe or toenail changes. Among them, the most common site was big toe/nail (13, 62%), and the most common change was subungual hematoma (8, 42%). Conclusion: Through this study, the dermatologists can recognize and diagnose the nail and skin changes of long second toe.

Interferon-γ Inhibits in vitro Mobilization of Eosinophils by Interleukin-5

Park, Choon-Sik,Choi, Eun Nam,Kim, Jung Sun,Choi, Yun Sung,Rhim, Tai Youn,Chang, Hun Soo,Chung, Il Yup S. Karger AG 2005 International archives of allergy and immunology Vol.136 No.3

<P><I>Background:</I> Th2 cytokines play pivotal roles in allergic inflammation, including eosinophilia, and their actions are antagonized by Th1 cytokines, conferring them therapeutic potential. <I>Methods:</I> In this study, we examined the ability of a number of cytokines to suppress the activation of eosinophils that function as effector cells for allergic airway diseases. <I>Results:</I> Interleukin (IL)-5, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) induced an eosinophil shape change, whereas interferon (IFN)-γ significantly inhibited the shape change. Other cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13, had little or only slightly enhancing or reducing effects on the shape change. We further analyzed the IFN-γ effect, showing that pretreatment with IFN-γ strongly suppressed IL-5-induced eosinophil shape change, and cycloheximide (CHX) abrogated the suppression by IFN-γ, suggesting that new protein synthesis is required for the inhibitory effect by this cytokine. In agreement with these results, IFN-γ blocked the eosinophil migration and ERK phophorylation induced by IL-5, and the addition of CHX restored eosinophil chemotaxis. <I>Conclusions:</I> Collectively, IFN-γ may attenuate eosinophilic inflammation by directly negating eosinophil mobilization.</P><P>Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel</P>

RSV 와 인플루엔자 바이러스 A 형 감염에 의해 천명을 보이는 소아와 천식 소아에서 비인두 흡인액의 Interleukin-5 와 Interleukin-γ 치의 비교

오재원,이하백,김창렬,염명걸,문수지,박일규,강정옥 대한 소아알레르기 및 호흡기학회 1999 소아알레르기 및 호흡기학회지 Vol.9 No.2

목 적 : 호흡기 바이러스 감염은 소아에서 천식을 악화시키는 것으로 잘 알려져 있다. 그러나 영유아기의 천식이나 천명발생에 있어서 호홉기 바이러스의 역할에 대해서는 명확하게 밝혀져 있지 않다. 소아기의 천명이 천식과 달리 하나의 독립된 질환인지, 아니면 같은 질환으로 달리 표현되는 것인지 논란이 되어왔다. 이에 본 저자들은 호흡기 바이러스 감염과 천명과의 상관관계와 기전을 이해하기 위하여 RSV 감염이나 influenza A 바이러스 감염에 의해 천명이 있는 소아와 바이러스가 증명되지 않고 천명이 있는 천식소아에서의 비인두 흡인액의 IL-5와 IFN-γ치를 측정하여 비교하였다. 방 법 : 호흡기 바이러스 감염군 38명(RSV감염군 21명, influenga A virus 감염군 17명), 바이러스가 증명되지 않은 천식환아군 12명, 정상 대조군 16명을 대상으로 double sandwich ELISA를 이용하여 비인두 흡인액에서 IL-5와 IFN-γ치를 측정하여 비교하였다. 결 과 : RSV 감영군에서 비인두 흡인액의 IL-5 평균치가 influenza A 바이러스군의 평균치보다 의미있게 높았으며, 천식군보다도 높은 양상을 보이나 의미있는 차이는 없었다 반면, influenza A 바이러스 감염군의 비인두 흡인액의 IFN-γ치가 RSV군에 비해 의미있게 높았으나 천식환아군이나 정상군에 비해 의미있게 높지는 않았다. 비인두 흡입액에서 IL-5와 IFN-γ치간의 상관관계는 없었다. 결 론 : RSV 감염군은 influenza A 바이러스 감염군에 비해 Th2 반응이 우세한 것으로 추정되며, 반면에 influenza A virus 감염군은 Th1 반응을 보이는 것을 알 수 있다. Background : Infection with respiratory virus has been shown to exacerbate asthma. However, the role of a respiratory virus in the pathogenesis of chronic asthma and/or wheezing in young children has not been clearly defined. And it also has been debated whether virus-induced wheezing in young children is an entity different from allergic asthma, or just a different expression of the same disease. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the importance of eosinophilic inflammation, comparing IL-5 and IFN-γ levels in nasopharyngeal secretions in wheezing children with or without viral infection and the controls. Methods : We compared IL-5 and IFN-γ levels in nasopharyngeal secretions from 38 non-asthmatic wheezing children with viral infections (RSV in 21 children, influenza A virus in 17 children), 12 asthmatic children without viral infections and 16 children as the controls. Results : The present study reported that RSV infection in children induced more releasing of IL-5 in nasopharyngeal secretions than the influenza A virus infected ones and the controls. On the other hand, the releasing of IFN-γ levels in nasopharyngeal secretions from children with influenza A virus infection was significantly higher than those of the children with RSV infection or asthmatic children. Conclusion : RSV infection in children may play a role in the immune response toward a Th2 phenotype as increasing IL-5 secretion in nasopharyngeal secretion. Increased IFN-γ production in response to the influenza A virus infection may be related to the effective Th1 responses.

한국인 직무 스트레스 측정도구의 개발 및 표준화

장세진,고상백,강동묵,김성아,강명근,이철갑,정진주,조정진,손미아,채창호,김정원,김정일,김형수,노상철,박재범,우종민,김수영,김정연,하미나,박정선,이경용,김형렬,공정옥,김인아,김정수,박준호,현숙정,손동국 大韓産業醫學會 2005 대한직업환경의학회지 Vol.17 No.4

Background and Purposes: Over the past three decades, numerous studies performed in Korea have reported that job stress is a determinant risk factor for chronic diseases and work disability. Every society has its own culture and occupational climate particular to their organizations, and hence experiences different occupational stress. An occupational stress measurement tool therefore needs to be developed to estimate it objectively. The purpose of this study is to develop and standardize the Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS) which is considered to be unique and specific occupational stressors in Korean employees. Subjects and Methods: Data were obtained from the National Study for Development and Standardization of Occupational Stress (NSDSOS Project: 2002-2004). A total of 12,631 employees from a nationwide sample proportional to the Korean Standard Industrial Classification and the Korean Standard Occupational Classification were administered. The KOSS was developed for 2 years (2002-2004). In the first year, we collected 255 items from the most popular job stress measurement tools such as JCQ, ERI, NIOSH and OSI, and 44 items derived from the a qualitative study (depth interview). Forty-three items of KOSS, in the second year, were retained for use in the final version of the KOSS by using Delphi and factor analysis. Items were scored using conventional 1-2-3-4 Likert scores for the response categories. Results: We developed eight subscales by using factor analysis and validation process: physical environment (3 items), job demand (8 items), insufficient job control (5 items), interpersonal conflict (4 items), job insecurity (6 items), organizational system (7 items), lack of reward (6 items), and occupational climate (4 items). Together they explained 50.0% of total variance. Internal consistency alpha scores were ranged from 0.51 to 0.82. Twenty-four items of the short form of the KOSS (KOSS-SF) were also developed to estimate job stress in the work setting. Because the levels of the subscales of occupational stress were gender dependent, gender-specific standard norms for both the 43-item full version and the 24-item short form using a quartile for the subscales of KOSS were presented. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that KOSS might be an appropriate measurement scale to estimate occupational stress of Korean employees. Further and more detailed study needs to be conducted to improve the validity of this scale.

흰쥐에서 사염화 탄소(CCl4)에 의한 간섬유화의 유도

김병호,이정일,김효종,김영관,장린,동석호,장영운,송일한 대한소화기학회 1992 대한소화기학회지 Vol.24 No.6

Experimental model of hepatic fibrosis is importent contributions to the understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix in the liver. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) is one of the oldest and most widely used toxin for experimental induction of hepatic fibrosis in laboratory animals. In this study, We intended to induce the hepatic fibrosis in the rat by the intragastric CCl₄/ phenobarbtal treatment once a week for 12 weeks and the administration dosage of CCl₄ in each week was determined by the daily body weight change. Liver function and histologic change were examined just after 12-week treatment in group Ia (9 rats, Phenobarbital treatment only) and II (18 rats, CCl₄/phenobarbital treatment), and liver function and the irreversibility o histologic change were examined 12 weeks after 12-week treatment in group Ib (9 rats, phenobarbital treatment only) and III (18 rats, CCl₄/phenobarbital treatment). 1) Death rate after 12-week treatment was 11% in group Ⅰ, 56% in group Ⅱ and 50% in group Ⅲ. and the highest rate was at 1 week. that is 33 o each in group Ⅱ and Ⅲ. 2) Tatal protein, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase and portal venous pressure were significantly increased in group Ⅱ compared with that in group Ⅰa, but it was only portal venous pressure that was increased in group Ⅲ than in group Ⅰb, 3) The gross finding of micronodular change was shown in 88% of group Ⅱ, 71% of group Ⅲ, but none of group Ⅰ. The microscopic finding of hepatic fibrosis was found in all of group Ⅱ and Ⅲ, but none of group Ⅰ. The severe form of hepatic fibrosis suggesting cirrhosis was found in group Ⅱ and Ⅲ, 12% and 29% respectively. In our study, mortality rate was high within 1 week after CCl₄ treatment, which resulted in half survival rate after 12-week treatment. We also experienced the loin rate of severe fibrotic changes in surviving rats. In the future, in order to produce a severe irreversible fibrotic change with low mortality in inducing hepatic fibrosis with CCl₄/phenobarbital treatment in the rat, adequate detemination of the initial dose of CCl₄ and appropriate choice of administration route of CCl₄ were thought to be needed.

Association of Increased Pulmonary Interleukin-6 with the Priming Effect of Intra-Amniotic Lipopolysaccharide on Hyperoxic Lung Injury in a Rat Model of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Kim, Do-Hyun,Choi, Chang Won,Kim, Ee-Kyung,Kim, Han-Suk,Kim, Beyong Il,Choi, Jung-Hwan,Lee, Myong Jin,Yang, Eun Gyeong S. Karger AG 2010 NEONATOLOGY Vol.98 No.1

<P><I>Background:</I> The authors previously demonstrated the priming effect of intra-amniotic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on hyperoxic lung injury in a rat model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). <I>Objectives:</I> To investigate the mechanism underlying this priming effect by determining biochemical profiles in a rat model of BPD. <I>Methods:</I> The rat model involved intra-amniotic LPS administration and postnatal hyperoxia (85%). The mRNA expressions of <I>interleukin-6 (IL-6), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF),</I> and <I>transforming growth factor </I>β<SUB><I>1</I></SUB><I> (TGF-</I>β<SUB><I>1</I></SUB><I>),</I> as well as the protein levels of IL-6, VEGF, and protein carbonyl in lung tissue were compared between the LPS plus hyperoxia, the LPS only, the hyperoxia only, and the control groups. <I>Results:</I> Morphometric analysis of lung tissues demonstrated that alveolarization was significantly inhibited only in the LPS plus hyperoxia group. IL-6 protein levels and its mRNA expression in the lungs were significantly increased only in the LPS plus hyperoxia group. Neither LPS nor hyperoxia increased IL-6 in the lungs independently. <I>bFGF</I> mRNA expression was significantly decreased in the LPS-treated groups. VEGF protein levels were significantly reduced by hyperoxia, whereas protein carbonyl levels were increased by intra-amniotic LPS or hyperoxia. No additional significant change to VEGF or protein carbonyl levels was produced by intra-amniotic LPS or hyperoxia. There were no significant differences in the mRNA expressions of <I>VEGF, VEGFR-2,</I> and <I>TGF-</I>β<SUB><I>1</I></SUB>. <I>Conclusions:</I> The priming effect of intra-amniotic LPS on hyperoxic lung injury may be associated with IL-6 elevation in the lungs.</P><P>Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel</P>