Purpose: To investigate the effect of aspirin on fractalkine (FKN) in rats with pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods: Sprague Dawley rats were divided into control group, sham operation group, PE model group and PE + aspirin group. PE was established by injecting self-embolus into the right jugular vein of the rats. Aspirin was administered orally 1 day and 40 min before PE surgery, and daily thereafter. At 4 and 72 h following embolism, the rat lung tissues were obtained for hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining as well as measurement of mRNA expression of FKN, TNF-α and IL-1β. Additionally, serum FKN, IL-8, TNF-α, and IL-1β were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: The serum levels of FKN, IL-8, TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly decreased by treatment with aspirin compared with the PE group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, mRNA expressions of lung FKN, TNF-α and IL-1β in PE group were markedly decreased by treatment with aspirin compared with that in PE group. PE-induced lung injury was alleviated by treatment with aspirin based on the results of pathological examination..

Conclusion: Aspirin has protective effects against PE-induced lung injuries, which is probably mediated by the suppression of the expression of IL-8, TNF-α, IL-1β, and FKN.