Fullerene derivative attenuates ischemia-reperfusion-induced lung injury

Reactive oxygen species are the major contributing factors to lung ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. In this study, we tested whether a water soluble antioxidant fullerene derivative [C-60(ONO2)(7) (+/-) (2)] attenuates IR lung injury. Young Wistar rats were divided into two groups: control and C-60(ONO2)(7 +/- 2). Under ventilation with 95% air-5% CO2 gas mixture and a 2.5 cm H2O end-expiratory pressure, the isolated lungs were perfused with a physiological solution. The experimental protocol included three periods: baseline (10 min), ischemia (45 min) and reperfusion (60 min, ventilated with 95% O-2-5% CO2 gas mixture). Before and after ischemia, we measured pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa), pulmonary venous pressure and lung weight (W). Then, pulmonary capillary pressure and filtration coefficient (K-fc) were calculated. Ischemia caused increases in Ppa, W and K-fc in the control group. For most cases, the above ischemia-induced increases were attenuated by the C60(ON02)7 1 2 pretreatment. Our results suggest that the antioxidant C-60(ONO2)(7) (+/- 2) attenuates IR-induced lung injury. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.