Autotaxin and Endotoxin-Induced Acute Lung Injury

Acute Lung Injury (ALI) is a life-threatening, diffuse heterogeneous lung injury characterized by acute onset, pulmonary edema and respiratory failure. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a common cause of both direct and indirect lung injury and when administered to a mouse induces a lung phenotype exhibiting some of the clinical characteristics of human ALI. Here, we report that LPS inhalation in mice results in increased bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) levels of Autotaxin (ATX, Enpp2), a lysophospholipase D largely responsible for the conversion of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) to lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in biological fluids and chronically inflamed sites. In agreement, gradual increases were also detected in BALF LPA levels, following inflammation and pulmonary edema. However, genetic or pharmacologic targeting of ATX had minor effects in ALI severity, suggesting no major involvement of the ATX/LPA axis in acute inflammation. Moreover, systemic, chronic exposure to increased ATX/LPA levels was shown to predispose to and/or to promote acute inflammation and ALI unlike chronic inflammatory pathophysiological situations, further suggesting a differential involvement of the ATX/LPA axis in acute versus chronic pulmonary inflammation.

A rare case of multinodular pulmonary amyloidosis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Pulmonary amyloidosis is usually associated with systemic amyloidosis. Localized pulmonary amyloidosis without systemic amyloidosis is even rare. We reported a rare case of multinodular pulmonary amyloidosis to improve the understanding of the disease.

METHODS

Report of a case.

RESULTS

We present an unusual case of primary pulmonary multinodular amyloidosis in a middle-aged woman. She presented our hospital with cough and chest distress only. Results of computed tomography (CT) showed multiple nodules with diffused calcification and thick-walled cavity in bilateral lung parenchyma. And the diagnosis of nodular amyloidosis was established by a CT-guided core needle biopsy.

CONCLUSIONS

The case clearly shows it is difficult to distinguish parenchymal nodular amyloidosis from malignant primary lung neoplasm in radiology because of their similar images. Thus, the role of CT-guided core needle biopsy in diagnosis of pulmonary multinodular amyloidosis is very important.