of acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome is characterized by sequestration of leukocytes in lung tissue, disruption of capillary integrity, and pulmonary edema. PKC␦ plays a critical role in RhoA-mediated endothelial barrier function and inflammatory responses. We used mice with genetic deletion of PKC␦ (PKC␦ Ϫ/Ϫ ) to assess the role of PKC␦ in susceptibility to LPS-induced lung injury and pulmonary edema. Under baseline conditions or in settings of increased capillary hydrostatic pressures, no differences were noted in the filtration coefficients (kf) or wet-to-dry weight ratios between PKC␦ ϩ/ϩ and PKC␦ Ϫ/Ϫ mice. However, at 24 h after exposure to LPS, the k f values were significantly higher in lungs isolated from PKC␦ ϩ/ϩ than PKC␦ Ϫ/Ϫ mice. In addition, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained from LPS-exposed PKC␦ ϩ/ϩ mice displayed increased protein and cell content compared with LPS-exposed PKC␦ Ϫ/Ϫ mice, but similar changes in inflammatory cytokines were measured. Histology indicated elevated LPS-induced cellularity and inflammation within PKC␦ ϩ/ϩ mouse lung parenchyma relative to PKC␦ Ϫ/Ϫ mouse lungs. Transient overexpression of catalytically inactive PKC␦ cDNA in the endothelium significantly attenuated LPS-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction in vitro and increased kf lung values in PKC␦ ϩ/ϩ mice. However, transient overexpression of wild-type PKC␦ cDNA in PKC␦ Ϫ/Ϫ mouse lung vasculature did not alter the protective effects of PKC␦ deficiency against LPS-induced acute lung injury. We conclude that PKC␦ plays a role in the pathological progression of endotoxin-induced lung injury, likely mediated through modulation of inflammatory signaling and pulmonary vascular barrier function. endothelium; pulmonary edema; lipopolysaccharide; acute lung injury ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS syndrome (ARDS) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in sepsis and severe pneumonia (26). Transudation of vascular fluid and protein from the pulmonary capillary lumen into the interstitium and alveolar air spaces impairs gas exchange, decreases lung compliance, and initiates a cascade of inflammatory events that leads to respiratory failure. This cascade is often characterized by sequestration of leukocytes in lung tissues, intravascular coagulation, and disruption of capillary integrity, leading to pulmonary edema (4).The vascular endothelium is a critical target for an endotoxin such as LPS, an established inflammatory and edemagenic agent. Circulating levels of LPS are elevated in patients with severe pneumonia or sepsis and can be used as a predictor of the development of ARDS (14).PKC␦ plays an important role in the maintenance of the lung vascular barrier. We observed enhanced endothelial barrier function following PKC␦ overexpression in vitro, effects that were mediated through the RhoA-GTPase pathway (21). We further noted that chemical and molecular inhibition in vivo and in vitro results in pulmonary edema formation and endothelial barrier dysfunction through reduced RhoA-GTPasemediated disrup...