Nitric oxide-dependent regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in Group B streptococcal inflammation of rat lung

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection leading to sepsis and lung injury is a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Lung injury may result from overproduction of pro-inflammatory mediators (cytokines), caused by nitric oxide (NO). Our objective was to characterize the molecular signaling events involving the pro-inflammatory mediators interleukin-6 (IL-6) and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP-2) in the presence of aminoguanidine (AG), an inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) specific inhibitor, in lung tissue from GBS-treated young rats. Changes in iNOS mRNA, lactic acid, and rectal temperature were determined as markers of the inflammatory response. Expression and regulation of IL-6 and MIP-2 mRNA in lung tissue were studied by RT-PCR with densitometry analysis. GBS treatment of young rats induced the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators IL-6 (6-fold) and MIP-2 (3-fold) in lung tissue compared to controls. AG decreased IL-6 and MIP-2 expression. Addition of L-arginine (L-arg) reversed the AG effect on IL-6 and MIP-2 expression. These data suggest a role for the nitric oxide pathway in the overproduction of pro-inflammatory mediators IL-6 and MIP-2 during GBS-induced lung inflammation. This pathway may be responsible for the initiation of lung injury.