TY - JOUR AB - α-Calcitonin gene-related peptide (α-CGRP) is a 37 amino-acid neuropeptide that is primarily released from C‑type sensory neurons. α‑CGRP exerts multiple modulatory effects on immune responses and visceral organ function, but the role of exogenous α‑CGRP in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‑induced acute lung injury (ALI) has remained to be elucidated. Forty‑eight rats were randomized to receive continuous intraperitoneal infusion of α‑CGRP (0.4 µg/kg/min) or normal saline for 30 min, followed by intratracheal injection of 0.5 mg/kg LPS or saline. There were four groups of animals: The saline‑saline (S‑S) group; the saline‑α‑CGRP (S‑C) group; the LPS‑saline (L‑S) group and the LPS‑α‑CGRP (L‑C) group. Mean arterial pressure and arterial blood gases were assessed prior to α‑CGRP and LPS administration and every hour following LPS treatment. After 4 h, bronchoalveolar lavage was performed and used to assess total cell count and levels of tumor necrosis factor‑α, interleukin‑1β, intracellular cell adhesion molecule 1 and macrophage inflammatory protein 2. Lung tissue was also collected for assessing wet‑to‑dry (W/D) ratio, histology and Evans blue (EB) dye extravasation. Pulmonary α‑CGRP concentration and α‑CGRP receptor expression were also examined, and inducible cyclic adenosine monophosphate early repressor (ICER) and TNF‑α mRNA expression levels were measured. Treatment with exogenous α‑CGRP improved oxygenation during LPS‑induced ALI. Correspondingly, histological injury, total cell count, inflammatory cytokine levels, W/D ratio and EB dye extravasation were also significantly reduced. α‑CGRP receptor 1 expression was noted in pulmonary endothelial cells and alveolar macrophages and α‑CGRP receptor expression levels were decreased during ALI, whereas pulmonary α‑CGRP expression was continuously increased. Furthermore, exogenous α‑CGRP induced upregulation of ICER during LPS‑induced ALI. In conclusion, exogenous α‑CGRP improved oxygenation and ameliorated lung damage in LPS‑induced ALI, and these effects were associated with the upregulation of ICER. AD - Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, P.R. China AU - Yang,Wang AU - Xv,Meng AU - Yang,Wan ,Chao AU - Wang,Nan AU - Zhang,Xue ,Zhong AU - Li,Wen ,Zhi DA - 2015/08/01 DO - 10.3892/mmr.2015.3620 EP - 2188 IS - 2 JO - Mol Med Rep KW - acute lung injury calcitonin gene-related peptide lipopolysaccharide PY - 2015 SN - 1791-2997 1791-3004 SP - 2181 ST - Exogenous α-calcitonin gene-related peptide attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in rats T2 - Molecular Medicine Reports TI - Exogenous α-calcitonin gene-related peptide attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in rats UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2015.3620 VL - 12 ER -