Figure 4

Alveolar macrophage expansion elicited by intraperitoneal LPS application does not enhance neutrophilic alveolitis and cytokine release in response to subsequent intratracheal LPS application. Mice were either left untreated or received an intraperitoneal LPS application (50 μg/mouse) for either 96 h or 144 h or intratracheal LPS alone (1 μg/mouse) for 24 h or combinations of intraperitoneal LPS followed by intratracheal LPS application, as indicated. Subsequently, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid neutrophil numbers (A) and BAL fluid (B) TNFα (black bars), MIP-2 (grey bars) and CCL2 (white bars) levels were quantified by ELISA. Values are given as mean ± SEM of at least five mice per treatment group. * indicates p < 0.01 versus control.