Gene expression profiles in respiratory settings in rats under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

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Key findings

• Gene expression profile analyses revealed lower expression of inflammation/immune promotion, cytotoxicity, and cell proliferation related genes, and the higher expression of inflammation/immune suppression related genes in the spontaneous breathing group as compared to that in the other mechanical ventilation groups.

What is known and what is new?

• Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) is an effective lung protection strategy that avoids ventilator-induced lung injury.

• However, appropriate respiratory settings for VV-ECMO are yet to be established. In this study, we investigated the effects of ventilation under VV-ECMO using a newly developed rat VV-ECMO model and analyzed gene expression profiles.

What is the implication, and what should change now?

• The results of this study support the benefit weaning off ventilator support, and maintenance of spontaneous breathing during VV-ECMO in clinical practice, from a molecular and biological perspective.