Pendrin, an anion exchanger on lung epithelial cells, could be a novel target for lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury mice.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of pendrin in acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and to explore whether pendrin expression existing on alveolar cells.

Methods: ALI C57BL/6 mice model induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was established. The expression of pendrin in lung was analyzed by RT-PCR and western blotting methods, the changes of lung inflammatory parameters and pathology were observed, the cellular distribution of pendrin in the lung was determined using immunofluorescence. Statistical comparisons between groups were made by two-tailed Student's t-test.

Results: Enhanced expression of the slc26a4 gene and production of pendrin in lungs of LPS-induced ALI mice were confirmed. In comparison with vehicle-control mice, methazolamide treatment mitigated lung inflammatory parameters and pathology. IL-6 and MCP-1 in lung tissues and BALF in methazolamide-treated mice were statistically decreased. Methazolamide treatment had significant effect on the total protein concentration in the BALF and the ratio of lung wet/dry weight. The percentage of macrophages in the BALF was increased. There was a low expression of pendrin in ATII.

Conclusions: Pendrin may be involved in pathological process of LPS-induced ALI. Inhibition of the pendrin function could be used to treat ALI. Airway epithelial cell may be a valuable therapeutic target for discovering and developing new drugs and/or new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of ALI/ARDS.