Blockade of LOX-1 prevents endotoxin-induced acute lung inflammation and injury in mice

Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-1 (LOX-1), a cell surface receptor expressed in endothelial cells, is known to mediate oxidized LDL-induced vascular inflammation and atherogenesis. Although the role of LOX-1 in vascular inflammation has been well established, its involvement in acute lung inflammation and injury remains unclear. In the present study, we examined the effects of a LOX-1-blocking antibody on lung inflammation in a mouse endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury model. We demonstrated that intraperitoneal challenge with LPS induced a rapid and robust increase in LOX-1 expression in mouse lung. Pre-treatment of mice with anti-LOX-1-blocking antibody significantly inhibited LPS-induced lung inflammation as indicated by decreased neutrophil accumulation in the lung. Furthermore, anti-LOX-1 was capable of inhibiting LPS-induced inflammatory responses, including NF-κB activation, ICAM-1 expression and apoptotic signaling, in mouse lung. Collectively, these results indicate that LOX-1 may serve as a valuable therapeutic target in the prevention of acute lung inflammation and injury in sepsis.