Hypothermia and prostaglandin E(1) produce synergistic attenuation of ischemia-reperfusion lung injury.

Current methods of preserving lung tissue for transplantation are inadequate. In this study, we tested whether the combination of hypothermia plus prostaglandin E(1) (PGE(1)) treatment would have synergistic attenuation on ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) lung injury. Isolated rat lung experiments with ischemia for 1 h then reperfusion for 1 h, were conducted using six different perfusates: (1) University of Wisconsin solution (UW) at 30 degrees C (n = 5), (2) UW at 22 degrees C (n = 5), (3) UW at 10 degrees C (n = 4), (4) UW+PGE(1) at 30 degrees C (n = 4), (5) UW+PGE(1) at 22 degrees C (n = 4), and (6) UW+PGE(1) at 10 degrees C (n = 4). Hemodynamic changes, lung weight gain, capillary filtration coefficients, and lung pathology were analyzed to evaluate the I/R injury. Compared with 30 degrees C UW, animals treated with 22 degrees C UW and 10 degrees C UW had less I/R lung injury, with the groups receiving 22 degrees C UW showing superior results to group receiving 10 degrees C UW. The addition of PGE(1) to UW solution produced more attenuation of I/R injury than did UW alone. Among the six groups, 10 degrees C UW+PGE(1) produced the most reduction of I/R injury. This study has shown that hypothermia can attenuate I/R injury with the optimal flushing temperature being near 22 degrees C. PGE(1) also has a protective effect on I/R. Furthermore, hypothermia and PGE(1) have synergistic attenuation of I/R lung injury. We propose that pulmonary artery flushed with cooling UW+PGE(1) might improve lung preservation and improve results in lung transplantation.