Effect of penehyclidine hydrochloride on TLR4/NF-κВ signaling pathway in non-ventilated lung injury in patients undergoing radical operation for lung cancer

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effect of penehyclidine hydrochloride (PHC) on Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway in non-ventilated lung injury in the patients undergoing radical operation for lung cancer. Methods A total of 100 patients, aged 40-64 yr, with body mass index 18-27 kg/m2, of American Society of Anesthesiology physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ, undergoing radical operation for lung cancer, were divided into 2 groups (n=50 each) according to the random number table method: control group (group C) and PHC group.PHC 0.01 mg/kg was intravenously injected at 10 min before anesthesia induction in group PHC, while the equal volume of normal saline was given instead in group C. The peripheral tissues of the removed lung tissues were obtained for determination of wet/dry weight ratio (W/D ratio). The pathological changes and ultrastructure of lung tissues were observed under light microscope, and lung injury was assessed and scored.The expression of TLR4 and NF-κB protein and mRNA was detected by Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively.Before administration (T0), at the onset of one-lung ventilation (T1), at 60 min of one-lung ventilation (T2), immediately after the end of one-lung ventilation (T3), at the end of operation (T4) and at 24 h after operation (T5), blood samples were collected from the internal jugular vein for determination of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 concentrations by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Compared with group C, the W/D ratio and lung injury scores were significantly decreased, the expression of TLR4 and NF-κВ protein and mRNA was down-regulated, and the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8 were decreased at T2-T5 in group PHC (P<0.05). The pathological changes and damage to ultrastructure of lung tissues were significantly attenuated in group PHC as compared with group C. Conclusion The mechanism by which PHC attenuates non-ventilated lung injury is related to blocking TLR4/NF-κВ signaling pathway and reducing inflammatory responses in the patients undergoing radical operation for lung cancer. Key words: Cholinergic antagonists; Lung neoplasms; Lung injury; NF-kappa B; Toll-like receptor 4