ABSTRACT
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life threatening condition associated with great morbidity and mortality. it is characterized initially by accumulation of fluid in the alveolar space that impairs alveolar oxygen exchange. Eventually, this syndrome leads to multiorgan failure. Therefore, rapid edema clearance has generally been associated with better outcome in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Clearance of alveolar fluid is driven predominantly by active Na+ transport out of the alveolar space, mediated by increased apical Na(+)-channel and Na-K-ATPase activity. It has been demonstrated that increases in Na-K-ATPase in response to catecholamines in the alveolar epithelium are associated with increased lung edema clearance. The cellular mechanisms involve the recruitment of new Na-K-ATPase molecules to the plasma membrane from intracellular organelles. It also appears that adenovirus-mediated Na-K-ATPase gene transfer and increased Na-K-ATPase expression may provide an alternative and efficient pathway for transient increase in alveolar fluid reabsorption and resolution of pulmonary edema.