Modulatory effects of 17β-estradiol on acute lung inflammation after total occlusion of the descending aorta in male rats

• Published in: International immunopharmacology 2022-12, Vol.113, p.109311-109311, Article 109311
• Main Authors: da Anunciação, Lucas Ferreira, Sousa, Marcelo Nunes de, Vidal-dos-Santos, Marina, Armstrong-Jr, Roberto, Moreira, Luiz Felipe Pinho, Correia, Cristiano Jesus, Breithaupt-Faloppa, Ana Cristina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 17β-estradiol; iNOS; Ischemia and Reperfusion; Lung inflammation
• ISSN: 1567-5769; 1878-1705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109311

•Aortic ischemia and reperfusion leads to lung inflammatory activation with edema and leukocyte infiltration.•E2 preventive effects include decreasing of edema, iNOS expression and preventing leukocyte infiltration.•E2 is able to prevent the increased expression of ET-1.•Our study can be considered is one more step towards using E2 to prevent the local and remote inflammatory response after descending thoracic aorta cross-clamping. As a consequence of systemic inflammation caused by ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) due to aortic occlusion, the lungs can exhibit increased microvascular permeability, local release of pro-inflammatory mediators, and leukocyte infiltration. Lung tissue infiltration by activated neutrophils is followed by acute respiratory distress syndrome, which is linked to acute pulmonary microvascular damage, high mortality rates, and organ dysfunction. Previous studies have demonstrated that female sex hormones modulate the inflammatory response and that prophylactic treatment with 17β-estradiol (E2) can prevent fatalities and preserve mesenteric perfusion and intestinal integrity after ischemia/reperfusion induced by aortic occlusion. In this study, we focused on the protective effects of estradiol after aortic ischemia/reperfusion by evaluating lung injury and endothelial alterations. Upon anesthesia and mechanical ventilation, male rats were subjected to aortic occlusion for 20 min, followed by 2 h of reperfusion. In parallel, one group of rats received a single injection of estradiol (280 µg/kg, i.v.) 30 min before ischemia. We observed increased serum concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 in the I/R rats and E2 was able to reduce them. E2 effects after 2 h of reperfusion resulted mainly in decreasing of edema, iNOS expression and preventing leukocyte infiltration. Overall, our data indicate that estradiol might be a supplementary approach to deal with systemic processes and lung deterioration.