Figure 4.

Ventilator-induced endothelial activation and inflammation in renal tissue. In total kidney homogenates, mRNA expression of the adhesion molecules (a) E-selectin, (b) vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, (c) intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and (d) platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM)-1 was determined by quantitative real time RT-PCR. In addition, we studied ventilator-induced renal inflammation by measuring mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (e) IL-1β and (f) TNF-α and the chemokine (g) keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC). In total kidney homogenates, (h) myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was determined as a measure of granulocyte infiltration. Data are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean of four to eight mice for each group (* P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001 vs. non-ventilated controls (NVC)). 1 h = mechanically ventilated for one hour; 2 h = mechanically ventilated for two hours; 4 h = mechanically ventilated for four hours; O₂ = hyperoxia for four hours; GAPDH = glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase.