Fig. 7.

Instillation of TNFα with apoptotic cells during lung injury exacerbates inflammation. Neutrophil counts were assessed in BAL from wild-type mice challenged with 20 μg of intratracheal LPS to determine the time point associated with maximum inflammation (A). For subsequent experiments, mice were treated with intratracheal LPS followed 48 h later by a second intratracheal administration containing PBS, TNFα, apoptotic thymocytes, or TNFα + thymocytes. BAL was performed 24 h later and analyzed for neutrophils (B) and inflammatory cytokines (C–E). Neutrophil counts were elevated in mice treated with TNFα + apoptotic cells vs. all other groups. *P < 0.05, n = 12 mice per group.