A role for bronchial epithelial autotaxin in ventilator-induced lung injury

Background The pathophysiology of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) may eventually result in heterogeneous lung collapse and edema-flooded airways, predisposing the lung to progressive tissue damage known as ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Autotaxin (ATX; ENPP2), the enzyme largely responsible for extracellular lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) production, has been suggested to play a pathogenic role in, among others, pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. Methods C57BL/6 mice were subjected to low and high tidal volume mechanical ventilation using a small animal ventilator: respiratory mechanics were evaluated, and plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were obtained. Total protein concentration was determined, and lung histopathology was further performed Results Injurious ventilation resulted in increased BALF levels of ATX. Genetic deletion of ATX from bronchial epithelial cells attenuated VILI-induced pulmonary edema. Conclusion ATX participates in VILI pathogenesis.