I plan to investigate both endogenous and exogenous means of protecting the lung from the toxic changes associated with prolonged exposures to high concentrations of 02, and from several other agents which are believed to cause lung damage by very similar biochemical (oxidant) mechanisms (including paraquat, bleomycin and lung irradiation). I wish to continue to study the role of the endogenous peroxidase system -- in protecting the lung from the highly reactive 02 free-radicals produced by hyperoxia and these other oxidant agents. The ability to respond to hyperoxidant challenge with increased antioxidant enzyme activity has been shown by us to be a characteristic response in 02-tolerant newborn animals, but a response that is lacking in 02-susceptible adult animals. The reason for this disparity in sensitivity to 02-induced lung damage and lethality will be a major area to be examined. I especially wish to learn more about the mechanism of action of bacterial endotoxin, which I have found provides more marked protection against experimental 02 toxicity than any other exogenous agent reported to date (Survival of adult rats in hyperoxia increased from approximately 25% (untreated) to greater than 95% with endotoxin treatment). I also wish to test the effectiveness of endotoxin (and """"""""endotoxoids"""""""" - chemically detoxified endotoxin) in protecting the lung from the damage produced by the other oxidant agents mentioned above. Finally, I wish to follow up on our recent finding that the antioxidant enzymes show significant increases in activity in fetal rabbit lungs just prior to the end of gestation and birth. This may have important implications for the susceptibility of the prematurely-born (human infant) to early clinical hyperoxic treatment. Studies are planned to determine what controls the late fetal rise in these protective lung enzymes (hormonal?) and whether their activity can be prematurely stimulated in the lung in utero.
Showing the most recent 10 out of 23 publications
