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MDR1 P-glycoprotein (Pgp 170), a member of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) binding cassette transporters, acts as an efflux pump for various hydrophobic agents, particularly for xenobiotics such as benzo(a)pyrene. It has also been shown to regulate cell-volume activated chloride channels. Pgp 170 could, therefore, be of particular importance in cellular mechanisms of defence in the airways and in the control of mucus layer composition. For these reasons, we evaluated the precise localization of Pgp 170 in human adult airways. Fresh non-neoplastic bronchial specimens were collected from 33 patients (26 smokers, four exsmokers and three nonsmokers) who underwent surgery for lung carcinoma. The presence of MDR1 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was demonstrated by reverse transcriptase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in bronchial epithelial cells collected by gentle scraping from either smokers, exsmokers or nonsmokers. Immunodetection of Pgp 170 using a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MRK16, JSB1, C219, C494) was performed either on cryostat or paraffin-embedded sections of histologically normal bronchial tissue. Pgp 170 was constantly detected with intense labelling at the apical surface of ciliated epithelial cells from the surface epithelium or ciliated collecting ducts, and on apical and lateral surfaces of serous cells from bronchial glands. No staining of mucus-secreting cells was observed. Pgp 170 was also demonstrated at the luminal surface of endothelial cells of bronchial capillaries. In conclusion, the expression of MDR1 P-glycoprotein in bronchial structures, particularly at the epithelial apical surface, suggests important roles for this transmembrane protein in human airways.

Exposure to hyperoxia results in endothelial necrosis followed by type II cell proliferation. This suggests that type II cells are resistant to hyperoxia. Oxygen-induced lung injury may result from an overproduction of oxygen metabolites normally scavenged by antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase, catalase and reduced glutathione (GSH). Therefore, resistance of type II cells to hyperoxia may be linked to high antioxidant activities. To test this hypothesis we compared in vitro the effects of a 24 h exposure period to 95% O2 on cultured type II cells, lung fibroblasts and alveolar macrophages isolated from rats. We show that type II cells, when compared with other cell types, are highly sensitive to hyperoxia as shown by increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, decreased deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) and protein content of Petri dishes and decreased thymidine incorporation into DNA. Synthesis of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine was also significantly reduced. Antioxidant enzyme activities as well as glutathione content were not higher in type II cells than in other cell types. However, hyperoxia results in a decreased SOD activity and glutathione content in type II cells which was not observed in fibroblasts. We conclude that adaptative changes in SOD and glutathione metabolism could be important defence mechanisms in cells exposed to hyperoxia.