The effect of diet-induced serum hypercholesterolemia on the surfactant system and the development of lung injury

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a pulmonary disorder associated with alterations to the pulmonary surfactant system. Recent studies showed that supra-physiological levels of cholesterol in surfactant contribute to impaired function. Since cholesterol is incorporated into surfactant within the alveolar type II cells which derives its cholesterol from serum, it was hypothesized that serum hypercholesterolemia would predispose the host to the development of lung injury due to alterations of cholesterol content in the surfactant system. Wistar rats were randomized to a standard lab diet or a high cholesterol diet for 17–20 days. Animals were then exposed to one of three models of lung injury: i) acid aspiration ii) ventilation induced lung injury, and iii) surfactant depletion. Following physiological monitoring, lungs were lavaged to obtain and analyze the surfactant system. The physiological results showed there was no effect of the high cholesterol diet on the severity of lung injury in any of the three models of injury. There was also no effect of the diet on surfactant cholesterol composition. Rats fed a high cholesterol diet had a significant impairment in surface tension reducing capabilities of isolated surfactant compared to those fed a standard diet exposed to the surfactant depletion injury. In addition, only rats that were exposed to ventilation induced lung injury had elevated levels of surfactant associated cholesterol compared to non-injured rats. It is concluded that serum hypercholesterolemia does not predispose rats to altered surfactant cholesterol composition or to lung injury. Elevated cholesterol within surfactant may be a marker for ventilation induced lung damage.