Fig. 5From: Hypercapnic acidosis attenuates pulmonary epithelial stretch-induced injury via inhibition of the canonical NF-κB pathwayThe effects of HCA appear to be mediated via pH-dependent effects rather than via CO2. Metabolic acidosis (MA), at a pH comparable to that seen with HCA, decreases stretch-induced activation of NF-κB (a), decreases IL-8 secretion (b), reduces epithelial LDH leakage (c), and maintains cell viability (d) following cyclic mechanical stretch. In contrast, these effects are abrogated by buffering of the hypercapnic acidosis (BHC). Note: *P < 0.05 versus normocapnia. Abbreviations: Sham unstretched cells under normocapnia, Normo high cyclical stretch with normocapnia, HCA high cyclical stretch with hypercapnia, MA high cyclical stretch with metabolic acidosis, BHC high cyclical stretch with buffered hypercapniaBack to article page