Effect of Dexamethasone on Gene Expression of Surfactant Protein B and Surfactant Protein C.
10.4046/trd.2003.54.4.439
- Author:
Ik Soo PARK
1
;
Jang Won SOHN
;
Ho Joo YOON
;
Dong Ho SHIN
;
Sung Soo PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea. parkss@hanyang.ac.kr
- Publication Type:In Vitro ; Original Article
- Keywords:
Gene expression;
Surfactant protein B and C;
Dexamethasone
- MeSH:
Adult;
Animals;
Dexamethasone*;
Epithelial Cells;
Gene Expression*;
Glucocorticoids;
Humans;
Lung;
Phosphatidylcholines;
Protein C*;
Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein C;
Rats;
RNA, Messenger
- From:Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
2003;54(4):439-448
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Surfactant protein B(SP-B) and surfactant protein C(SP-C) are important in accelerating surface spreading of surfactant phospholipid. The glucocorticoids accelerate the morphologic differentiation of epithelial cells into type II cells and increase the rate of phosphatidylcholine synthesis. The hydrophobic surfactant protein has been shown to be upregulated by glucocorticoids in vitro, however, its regulation in vivo is not well established. METHODS: The authors investigated the effects of glucocorticoid on the accumulation of mRNA encoding SP-B and SP-C protein content of the lung. Adult rats were given different doses of subcutaneous dexamethasone and sacrificed at 24 hours and 1 week. SP-B and SP-C mRNA were measured by a filter hybridization method. RESULTS: 1) The accumulation of SP-B mRNA at 24 hours after 0.2 mg/kg dexamethasone treatment was increased by 23.7%. 2) The accumulation of SP-B mRNA at 1 week after 2 mg/kg dexamethasone treatment was significantly increased by 96.6%(P<0.001). 3) The accumulation of SP-C mRNA at 24 hours after 0.2 mg/kg dexamethasone treatment was significantly increased by 42.7%(P<0.01). 4) The accumulation of SP-C mRNA at 1 week after 2 mg/kg dexamethasone treatment was significantly increased by 60.0% (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The authors concluded that dexamethasone treatment in vivo resulted in increased levels of SP-B mRNA and SP-C mRNA. These results suggested that dexamethasone stimulates the synthesis of hydrophobic proteins associated with surfactant.