Weakly acidic pH reduces inflammatory cytokine expression in airway epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Aspiration lung disease (ALD) is a common cause of respiratory morbidity in children and adults with severe neurodisability (sND). Recent studies suggest that chronic microaspiration of gastric contents is associated with mild rather than low, airway acidification. We investigated inflammatory responses to infection by airway epithelial cells (AECs) exposed to weakly acidic media. METHODS: Using pH measurements from children with sND at high risk of ALD as a guide, we incubated AECs in weakly acidic (pH5.5-7.4) media alone; in combination with lipopolysaccharide (LPS); or prior to LPS stimulation at normal pH. Interleukin (IL) -6 and IL-8 expression were measured. RESULTS: IL-6/8 expression in AECs simultaneously exposed to weakly acidic media and LPS for 4 h was reduced with no effect on cell viability. Pre-incubation of AECs at weakly acidic pH also reduced subsequent LPS-induced cytokine expression. Suppression of inflammation was greatest at lower pHs (pH 5.5-6.0) for prolonged periods (16/24 h), but this also adversely affected cell viability. CONCLUSION: AEC inflammatory responses to bacterial stimuli is markedly reduced in a mildly acidic environment.

Does positioning affect tracheal aspiration of gastric content in ventilated infants?

OBJECTIVES: Gastroesophageal reflux and aspiration can occur in premature infants who are supported with mechanical ventilation. The relation between physical positioning and gastric aspiration in ventilated infants has not been studied. Pepsin measured in tracheal aspirate (TA) emerged as a specific marker for aspiration. The objective of our study was to assess pepsin in TA of ventilated infants at 2 different positions: supine and right lateral. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial on premature infants who were enterally fed and supported with mechanical ventilation. Patients were randomized into intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, infants were placed supine for 6 hours before a sample of TA was obtained. A second sample was collected 6 hours later while lying in the right lateral position. In the control group, the 2 samples of TA were obtained while infants remained in the supine position during the entire study time. Pepsin in TA was measured while blinded to the group assignment. RESULTS: A total of 34 patients were enrolled and randomized to intervention (n = 17) and control (n = 17) groups. Gestational age was 32.7 ± 2.7 weeks, and birth weight was 1617 ± 526 g; both groups had similar demographic and clinical characteristics. Pepsin concentration did not differ between groups at baseline. In the intervention group, pepsin concentration significantly declined from 13 ng/mL (interquartile range [IQR] 11.9-38.7) to 10 ng/mL (IQR 7-12; P < 0.001), whereas it did not change in the control group (P = 0.42). CONCLUSIONS: The right lateral positioning is associated with decreased TA pepsin. The implications of the present study on hospital practice and clinical outcomes need further investigations.

A potential mechanism by which aspiration of duodenogastric fluid augments the risk for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after lung transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: Aspiration of duodenogastric refluxate may damage the respiratory epithelium of lung allografts in transplant recipients. We sought to define a mechanism by which aspiration of duodenogastric fluid augments the risk of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after lung transplant in a murine model. METHODS: We analyzed the immunological effects of acute aspiration of duodenogastric fluid (0.5 mL/kg) on transplant naive (strain DBA/2J) and transplanted mice (strain B6D2F1/J to strain DBA/2J). Serum antibodies to the lung self-antigens (SAgs) K-alpha1 tubulin and collagen-V were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Exosomes were isolated from serum, and immunoblot membranes were probed for antibodies to lung SAgs. Lung sections were assessed for fibrotic burden and obliterative bronchiolitis lesions by histologic and immunohistochemical analyses, including trichrome staining. RESULTS: Transplanted mice that received duodenogastric fluid developed higher levels of antibodies to the lung SAgs K-alpha1 tubulin and collagen-V and exosomes with lung SAgs on posttransplant days 14 and 28 than transplanted mice with sham aspiration or transplant naive mice (with and without aspiration). All lung allografts demonstrated severe grade A4 rejection on posttransplant day 14, with the highest mean fibrotic burden and mean number of obliterative bronchiolitis-like lesions per microscopic field on day 28 in recipients with aspiration. CONCLUSIONS: This study links aspiration of duodenogastric fluid after lung transplant to higher autoimmune responses to lung SAgs and the release of circulating exosomes with lung SAgs, which together promote sustained immune responses leading to extensive lung parenchymal damage and, ultimately, severe obliterative bronchiolitis-the histologic hallmark of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome.

Early Immune Response to Acute Gastric Fluid Aspiration in a Rat Model of Lung Transplantation.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic aspiration of gastric fluid contents can decrease long-term survival of pulmonary transplants due to development of obliterative bronchiolitis. However, little is known about the early immune response and the cascade of events involved in the development of obliterative bronchiolitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We utilized a rat orthotopic pulmonary transplant model and a single aspiration of either gastric fluid or normal saline to investigate the histologic, cellular, and cytokine changes associated with an acute gastric fluid aspiration event compared with normal saline at 2 and 10 days after aspiration. RESULTS: Our observations included a decrease in pulmonary compliance and increased airway inflammation and acute rejection of the transplanted lung, as well as increases in macrophages, granulocytes, and proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 1ß, transforming growth factor ß1 and ß2, and tumor necrosis factor α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from the transplanted lung of gastric fluid-aspirated rats compared with normal saline-aspirated rats. CONCLUSIONS: The acute inflammatory response observed in the present study is consistent with changes found in chronic models of aspiration-associated injury and suggests a potentially important role for mast cells in the development of obliterative bronchiolitis.