Cytokines and ventilator-induced acute lung injury

Mechanical ventilation is an indispensable therapy for patients who need respiratory support. However, improper ventilation can lead to acute lung injury, which contributes to the mortality and morbidity of patients with respiratory distress. Mechanical ventilator-induced production of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines and chemokines, has been suggested to play an important role in mediating acute inflammatory responses in the lung. Release of these mediators from the lung to the circulation has been implicated to be involved in multiple-system organ failures. Cellular and molecular investigations have been initiated, to study the regulatory mechanisms of cytokines and chemokines from lung cells. Advanced technologies, such as microarray, have. been used to explore the effect of physical force on gene expression related to ventilator-induced Tung injury.