THE EFFECT OF L-SELECTIN BLOCKAGE ON LUNG AND BOWEL INJURY FOLLOWING INTESTINAL ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION

Abstract

Intestinal ischemia reperfusion (IR) results in both local injury to the bowel as well as injury to lungs, as measured increased vascular permeability and leukoseguestration. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of treatment with L-selectin on intestinal and lung injury following intestinal IR. Male Wistar rats randomized to sham operation (n: 10), 1 hour of SMA occlusion and two hours of reperfusion (IR, n:10), and intestinal IR plus treatment with antibody directed against rat L-Selectin (HRL-3, 1mg/kg, n: 10). Pulmonary microvascular permeability, neutrophil accumulation and expression of adhesion molecules were evaluated. Intestinal injury was assessed by Evans blue dye concentration and histological examination. Intestinal IR resulted in a marked increase in microvascular permeability, and neutrophil accumulation. The increase in pulmonary microvascular permability and leukoseguestration elicited by intestinal IR was effectively prevented by adminisfration of blocking antibody against L-Selectin. These results indicate that L-selectin plays a significant role in both intestinal and lung injury observed after intestinal IR. Immunoneutralization of certain of L-selectin may prevent intestinal IR injury.