Redox regulation of diesel exhaust particles-induced acute lung injury by thioredoxin-1

Diesel exhaust particles (DEP) are toxic air pollutant and cause acute lung injury by inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS). Thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) is a redox regulating thiol protein with antioxidant effects. Here we showed that intra-tracheal instillation of DEP caused generation of hydroxyl radicals and acute lung injury with massive infiltration of inflammatory cells in C57BL/6-control mice that were attenuated by over-expression of human thioredoxin-1 (hTrx-1) in hTrx-1-transgenic mice. These results provide clear evidence that hTrx-1 prevents DEP-induced acute lung injury by playing its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functions. Therefore Trx-1 may have beneficial therapeutic potential against acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome.