Interleukin-1 beta-induced neutrophil recruitment and acute lung injury in hamsters.

Administering recombinant interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) intratracheally caused lung neutrophil accumulation and lung injury in hamsters. The percentage of leukocytes that were neutrophils increased progressively in lavages from lungs of hamsters given 25, 50, or 100 ng IL-1 beta intratracheally 2 h before. Lung injury, reflected by increased lung lavage protein concentrations and lung lavage hemoglobin concentrations, increased 2 h after administering 100 ng IL-1 beta. Lung injury, reflected by lung wet weight/body weight ratios, followed similar patterns, with significant increases occurring 2 h after insufflating 50 or 100 ng IL-1. Our results indicate that increased concentrations of IL-1 beta in lung airways can cause neutrophil recruitment and lung injury in hamsters. This mechanism may contribute to the development of lung neutrophil accumulation and lung injury that characterizes ARDS patients who have increased airway levels of IL-1 beta.