Experimental Models of Acute Lung Injury to Study Inflammation and Pathophysiology: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Acute lung injury (ALI) is characterized by acute respiratory insufficiency, including tachypnea, cyanosis refractory to oxygen, decreased lung compliance, and diffuse alveolar infiltrates, which is a condition associated with high morbidity and mortality that usually results in the development of multiple organ dysfunction. Acute lung injury in humans is histopathologically characterized by neutrophilic alveolitis, injury of the alveolar epithelium and endothelium, hyaline membrane formation, and microvascular thrombi. Different animal models of experimental lung injury have been used to investigate mechanisms of lung injury, such as LPS-induced ALI, hyperoxia-induced ALI, and ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Here we will show selected preclinical mice models used as proof of concept to test new drugs in vivo with anti-inflammatory properties, discussing their particularities and clarifying the context of use.