Open Access

Seawater inhalation induces acute lung injury via ROS generation and the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway

  • Authors:
    • Peng‑Cheng Li
    • Bo‑Rong Wang
    • Cong‑Cong Li
    • Xi Lu
    • Wei‑Sheng Qian
    • Yu‑Juan Li
    • Fa‑Guang Jin
    • De‑Guang Mu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: February 12, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2018.3486
  • Pages: 2505-2516
  • Copyright: © Li et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Seawater (SW) inhalation can induce acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In the present study, SW induced apoptosis of rat alveolar epithelial cells and histopathological alterations to lung tissue. Furthermore, SW administration increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), whereas pretreatment with the ROS scavenger, N‑acetyl‑L‑cysteine (NAC), significantly decreased ROS generation, apoptosis and histopathological alterations. In addition, SW exposure upregulated the expression levels of glucose‑regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein (CHOP), which are critical proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response, thus indicating that SW may activate ER stress. Conversely, blocking ER stress with 4‑phenylbutyric acid (4‑PBA) significantly improved SW‑induced apoptosis and histopathological alterations, whereas an ER stress inducer, thapsigargin, had the opposite effect. Furthermore, blocking ROS with NAC inhibited SW‑induced ER stress, as evidenced by the downregulation of GRP78, phosphorylated (p)‑protein kinase R‑like ER kinase (PERK), p‑inositol‑requiring kinase 1α (IRE1α), p‑50 activating transcription factor 6α and CHOP. In addition, blocking ER stress with 4‑PBA decreased ROS generation. In conclusion, the present study indicated that ROS and ER stress pathways, which are involved in alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis, are important in the pathogenesis of SW‑induced ALI.
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May-2018
Volume 41 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Li PC, Wang BR, Li CC, Lu X, Qian WS, Li YJ, Jin FG and Mu DG: Seawater inhalation induces acute lung injury via ROS generation and the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway. Int J Mol Med 41: 2505-2516, 2018.
APA
Li, P., Wang, B., Li, C., Lu, X., Qian, W., Li, Y. ... Mu, D. (2018). Seawater inhalation induces acute lung injury via ROS generation and the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 41, 2505-2516. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2018.3486
MLA
Li, P., Wang, B., Li, C., Lu, X., Qian, W., Li, Y., Jin, F., Mu, D."Seawater inhalation induces acute lung injury via ROS generation and the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 41.5 (2018): 2505-2516.
Chicago
Li, P., Wang, B., Li, C., Lu, X., Qian, W., Li, Y., Jin, F., Mu, D."Seawater inhalation induces acute lung injury via ROS generation and the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 41, no. 5 (2018): 2505-2516. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2018.3486