Mechanical Ventilation with Double Tidal Volume Increases Nerve Growth Factor Levels in Bronchoalveolar Fluid of Mildly Lavaged Rabbit Lungs

Question: Nerve growth factor (NGF), a neurotrophin, has been recognized to have immunological functions. It is increased in patients with a high degree of bronchial hyperreactivity and asthma. NGF is produced by lung epithelial cells and airway smooth muscle cells in vitro and this production is upregulated by IL-1beta. Mechanical ventilation with very large tidal volumes, on the other hand, induces cytokines like IL-1 beta and IL8. We investigated the in vivo effect of varying tidal volume (VT) and duration of mechanical ventilation on a) mRNA and /or protein changes of proinflammatory cytokines: IL-1beta, IL8…