Effects of Hypercapnia in Lung Tissue Repair and Transplant

Mammalian cells sense and transduce signals in response to high levels of carbon dioxide. Hypercapnia has a variety of effects on epithelial and immune cells which can be beneficial or detrimental depending on the biologic context. For instance, hypercapnia-mediated suppression of cell proliferation and migration can delay wound repair. Similarly, suppression of macrophages and the inflammatory response during hypercapnia can limit the host’s ability to clear pathogens. However, the suppressive effects of hypercapnia on immunity have potential benefits in the setting of transplantation. Here, we discuss the effects of high levels of carbon dioxide on lung healing and the potential applications in lung transplantation.