Group IIA secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)) has been implicated in a variety of inflammatory diseases including acute lung injury (ALI); however, the role of sPLA(2) in this disorder remains unclear. The aim of the present investigation was to examine the role of this enzyme in a model of ALI induced by oleic acid (OA) in rabbits by testing human group IIA phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) inhibitor, S-5920/LY315920Na. Experimental groups consisted of a saline control group (n = 8), an OA control group (n = 10) infused intravenously with OA (0.1 ml/kg/h for 2 h), and three groups given OA + S-5920/LY315920Na (three different doses, n = 8, respectively). Infusion of OA provoked pulmonary hemorrhage and edema formation, protein leakage, and massive neutrophil infiltration, resulting in severe hypoxemia and impaired lung compliance. PLA(2) activity was detected in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), but not plasma, which correlated well with severity of lung injury in this model. Pretreatment with S-5920/LY315920Na diminished the OA-induced PLA(2) activity in the BALF and dose-dependently attenuated the previously described lung injury induced by OA, accompanied by protection against lung surfactant degradation and production of thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2)) and leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)). S-5920/LY315920Na also inhibited the OA-induced production of interleukin-8 (IL-8), both in plasma and BALF. Thus, sPLA(2) appears to play a key role in OA-induced lung injury, suggesting that the group IIA PLA(2) inhibitor may be a promising agent for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).