Objective: To investigate the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the lung tissue of rats with lung injury induced by brain ischemia.
Methods: The rat model of lung injury induced by brain ischemia was established. At 24 h, 48 h, 72 h after brain ischemia, lung tissues were harvested from each rats, the expressions of TNF-alpha mRNA and protein and its distributions in the lung tissue were measured by the methods of RT-PCR (n=8), Western blot (n=8), and immunohistochemistry (n=5), respectively.
Results: The increase of TNF-alpha mRNA and protein levels were found in the lung tissues after brain ischemia, when compared with sham group (P<0.05). The morphological study with immunohistochemical staining observed TNF-alpha positive reaction in epithelial cells and some macrophages in the lung tissues after brain ischemia.
Conclusion: The expression of TNF-alpha in the lung tissue could be upregulated in the rats with brain ischemia.