It is well known that pulmonary influx of neutrophils is involved in lung injury in patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Neutrophils are major contributors to the self-defence mechanism, however, adverse effects of neutrophils have also been recognized. Recently, we found that a highly toxic substance, 9, 10-epoxy-12-octadecenoate (leukotoxin) is biosynthesized by human neutrophils. This study was designed to investigate whether or not leukotoxin participates in lung injury in ARDS and coagulation abnormality which is often associated with ARDS. Intravenous injection of leukotoxin (100 mumol/kg) caused acute edematous lung injury, which was evidenced by increased lung weight, albumin concentrations, and angiotensin converting enzyme activities in lung lavages. Pulmonary capillary endothelial damage and pulmonary edema were observed by electron microscopy. Moreover, considerable amounts of leukotoxin were detected in lung lavage fluid of rats exposed to pure oxygen for 60 h and patients with ARDS. An increased number of neutrophils and albumin concentrations were also observed in these lavage fluids. Intravenous injection of leukotoxin (100 mumol/kg) induced coagulation abnormalities such as disseminated intravascular coagulation. Increased levels of plasma leukotoxin were detected in ARDS patients with coagulation abnormalities. These results suggest that leukotoxin biosynthesized by neutrophils is an important contributor to lung injury in ARDS and associated coagulation abnormalities.