Macrophages play a dual role in ozone toxicity, contributing to both pro- and anti-inflammatory processes. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a lectin known to regulate macrophage activity. Herein, we analyzed the role of Gal-3 in the response of lung macrophages to ozone. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and lung tissue were collected 24–72 h after exposure (3 h) of WT and Gal-3−/− mice to air or 0.8 ppm ozone. In WT mice, ozone inhalation resulted in increased numbers of proinflammatory (Gal-3+, iNOS+) and anti-inflammatory (MR-1+) macrophages in the lungs. While accumulation of iNOS+ macrophages was attenuated in Gal-3−/− mice, increased numbers of enlarged MR-1+ macrophages were noted. This correlated with increased numbers of macrophages in BAL. Flow cytometric analysis showed that these cells were CD11b+ and consisted mainly (>97%) mature (F4/80+CD11c+) proinflammatory (Ly6G−Ly6Chi) and anti-inflammatory (Ly6G−Ly6Clo) macrophages. Increases in both macrophage subpopulations were observed following ozone inhalation. Loss of Gal-3 resulted in a decrease in Ly6Chi macrophages, with no effect on Ly6Clo macrophages. CD11b+Ly6G+Ly6C+ granulocytic (G) and monocytic (M) myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) were also identified in the lung after ozone. In Gal-3−/− mice, the response of G-MDSC to ozone was attenuated, while the response of M-MDSC was heightened. Changes in inflammatory cell populations in the lung of ozone treated Gal-3−/− mice were correlated with reduced tissue injury as measured by cytochrome b5 expression. These data demonstrate that Gal-3 plays a role in promoting proinflammatory macrophage accumulation and toxicity in the lung following ozone exposure.

Reactive nitrogen species (RNS) generated after exposure to radiation have been implicated in lung injury. Surfactant protein D (SP-D) is a pulmonary collectin that suppresses inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-mediated RNS production. Herein, we analyzed the role of iNOS and SP-D in radiation-induced lung injury. Exposure of wild-type (WT) mice to γ-radiation (8 Gy) caused acute lung injury and inflammation, as measured by increases in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) protein and cell content at 24 h. Radiation also caused alterations in SP-D structure at 24 h and 4 weeks post exposure. These responses were blunted in iNOS(-/-) mice. Conversely, loss of iNOS had no effect on radiation-induced expression of phospho-H2A.X or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Additionally, at 24 h post radiation, cyclooxygenase expression and BAL lipocalin-2 levels were increased in iNOS(-/-) mice, and heme oxygenase (HO)-1(+) and Ym1(+) macrophages were evident. Loss of SP-D resulted in increased numbers of enlarged HO-1(+) macrophages in the lung following radiation, along with upregulation of TNF-α, CCL2, and CXCL2, whereas expression of phospho-H2A.X was diminished. To determine if RNS play a role in the altered sensitivity of SP-D(-/-) mice to radiation, iNOS(-/-)/SP-D(-/-) mice were used. Radiation-induced injury, oxidative stress, and tissue repair were generally similar in iNOS(-/-)/SP-D(-/-) and SP-D(-/-) mice. In contrast, TNF-α, CCL2, and CXCL2 expression was attenuated. These data indicate that although iNOS is involved in radiation-induced injury and altered SP-D structure, in the absence of SP-D, it functions to promote proinflammatory signaling. Thus, multiple inflammatory pathways contribute to the pathogenic response to radiation.

Stem cell-derived tyrosine kinase (STK) is a transmembrane receptor reported to play a role in macrophage switching from a classically activated/proinflammatory phenotype to an alternatively activated/wound repair phenotype. In the present studies, STK−/− mice were used to assess the role of STK in acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity as evidence suggests that the pathogenic process involves both of these macrophage subpopulations. In wild type mice, centrilobular hepatic necrosis and increases in serum transaminase levels were observed within 6 hr of acetaminophen administration (300 mg/kg, i.p.). Loss of STK resulted in a significant increase in sensitivity of mice to the hepatotoxic effects of acetaminophen and increased mortality, effects independent of its metabolism. This was associated with reduced levels of hepatic glutathione, rapid upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase, and prolonged induction of heme oxygenase-1, suggesting excessive oxidative stress in STK−/− mice. F4/80, a marker of mature macrophages, was highly expressed on subpopulations of Kupffer cells in livers of wild type, but not STK −/− mice. Whereas F4/80+ macrophages rapidly declined in the livers of wild type mice following acetaminophen intoxication, they increased in STK−/− mice. In wild type mice hepatic expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-12, products of classically activated macrophages, increased after acetaminophen administration. Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and its receptor, CCR2, as well as IL-10, mediators involved in recruiting and activating anti-inflammatory/wound repair macrophages, also increased in wild type mice after acetaminophen. Loss of STK blunted the effects of acetaminophen on expression of TNFα, IL-1β, IL-12, MCP-1 and CCR2, while expression of IL-10 increased. Hepatic expression of CX3CL1, and its receptor, CX3CR1 also increased in STK−/− mice treated with acetaminophen. These data demonstrate that STK plays a role in regulating macrophage recruitment and activation in the liver following acetaminophen administration, and in hepatotoxicity.

Ozone-induced lung injury is associated with an accumulation of activated macrophages in the lung. Chemokine receptor CCR2 mediates the migration of inflammatory monocytes/macrophages to sites of tissue injury. It is also required for monocyte egress from the bone marrow. In the present studies, we analyzed the role of CCR2 in inflammatory cell trafficking to the lung in response to ozone. Treatment of mice with ozone (0.8 ppm, 3 h) resulted in increases in proinflammatory CCR2 macrophages in the lung at 24 h, as well as proinflammatory CD11b Ly6C and iNOS macrophages at 24 and 48 h. Mannose receptor anti-inflammatory macrophages were also observed in the lung 24 and 48 h post-ozone. Loss of CCR2 was associated with reduced numbers of proinflammatory macrophages in the lung and decreased expression of the proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1β and TNFα. Decreases in anti-inflammatory CD11b Ly6C macrophages were also observed in lungs of CCR2 mice treated with ozone, whereas mannose receptormacrophage accumulation was delayed; conversely, CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 were upregulated. Changes in lung macrophage subpopulations and inflammatory gene expression in CCR2 mice were correlated with reduced ozone toxicity and oxidative stress, as measured by decreases in bronchoalveolar lavage protein content and reduced lung expression of heme-oxygenase-1, 4-hydroxynonenal and cytochrome b5. These data demonstrate that CCR2 plays a role in both pro- and anti-inflammatory macrophage accumulation in the lung following ozone exposure. The fact that ozone-induced lung injury and oxidative stress are reduced in CCR2 mice suggests more prominent effects on proinflammatory macrophages.

Macrophages and inflammatory mediators have been implicated in ozone toxicity. In these studies, we used splenectomized (SPX) mice to assess the contribution of splenic monocytes to pulmonary inflammation and injury induced by ozone. Cells and tissue were collected 24-72 h after exposure of mice to air or ozone (0.8 ppm, 3 h). Following ozone exposure, increased numbers of pro-inflammatory CD11b Ly6C and anti-inflammatory CD11b Ly6C monocytes were observed in spleens of control (CTL) mice. CD11b Ly6C and MMP-9pro-inflammatory macrophages were also observed in lungs of CTL mice after ozone, along with CD11b Ly6C and mannose receptor (MR) anti-inflammatory macrophages. This was accompanied by increased lung expression of proteins involved in monocyte/macrophage trafficking including CCL3, CCL4, CCR1, and AT1R. Splenectomy resulted in decreases in pro-inflammatory macrophages in the lung and down regulation of CCR2, CCL2, and CCL4, but increases in CD11b Ly6C anti-inflammatory macrophages. CD11bLy6GLy6C granulocytic (G)- and monocytic (M)-myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC)s were also detected in the lungs and spleens of CTL mice; these increased after ozone exposure. Splenectomy was associated with a decrease in G-MDSCs in the lung, with no effect on M-MDSCs. Changes in lung macrophage subpopulations and MDSCs in SPX mice were correlated with reduced ozone toxicity, as measured by decreases in bronchoalveolar lavage protein content and reduced 4-hydroxynonenal expression in the lung. These data suggest that the spleen is a source of pro-inflammatory/cytotoxic macrophages that contribute to ozone-induced lung injury, inflammation, and oxidative stress.