F. Ricagna et al., ENDOTHELIN-1 AND CELL-PROLIFERATION IN LUNG ORGAN-CULTURES - IMPLICATIONS FOR LUNG ALLOGRAFTS, Transplantation, 62(10), 1996, pp. 1492-1498
Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is found in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patien
ts following lung transplantation. ET-1 causes contraction of isolated
pulmonary vessels and bronchi and stimulates proliferation of smooth
muscle cells in culture. Therefore, ET-1 could contribute to the smoot
h muscle hyperplasia and stromal proliferation seen in chronic rejecti
on of lung allografts. Experiments were designed to determine whether
(1) ET-1 stimulates proliferation of pulmonary tissue, (2) proliferati
on is increased in rejecting allotransplanted lungs, (3) endothelin-A
receptors mediate the proliferative response, and (4) ET-1 is produced
by activated infiltrating immunocompetent cells. Lung organ cultures
were prepared from unoperated dogs and dogs with rejecting single lung
allografts. Incubation of organ cultures from unoperated dogs with ET
-1 (10(-9) to 10(-7) M) increased positive staining for proliferation
cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in lung parenchyma. PCNA staining was not
decreased by the endothelin-A antagonist BQ123 (10(-6) M). In addition
, immunostaining for endothelin-B receptors was present in sections of
unoperated but not rejecting lungs. PCNA staining in lung cultures fr
om rejecting allotransplanted dogs was significantly greater than that
from unoperated dogs. Positive immunohistochemical staining for ET-1
was found in mononuclear cells infiltrating rejecting transplanted lun
gs. In conclusion, exogenous ET-1 is mitogenic in lung organ cultures
through receptors other than endothelin-A. Proliferation in rejecting
transplanted lungs is increased compared with unoperated lungs. Mononu
clear cells may be a source of endothelin-1 in the rejecting lung. ET-
1, therefore could, in synergism with other cytokines, contribute to a
cute and chronic pathological changes seen in pulmonary rejection.