OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of RhoA in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BLF) from asthma patients allergic to dust mites and study its clinical significance.

METHODSBLF was collected from 47 mite-allergic asthma patients, 15 asthma patients non-allergic to dust mites and 7 healthy volunteers to detect RhoA expression by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe total positivity rates of RhoA expression were 66.7% in mite-allergic asthma patients, 70.2% in asthma patients non-allergic to dust mites and 0 in healthy volunteers, showing significant difference between the 3 groups (P<0.01). No statistical difference was observed in RhoA expression levels between male and female asthma patients allergic to dust mites (P>0.05). The total positivity rate was 83.3% in asthma children allergic to dust mites, higher than that in other patients with different ages, but their RhoA expression levels showed no significant differences (P>0.05). The total positive rates were 33.3%, 57.9%, 88.2% and 100.0% in patients with clinical grades I, II, III and IV, showing significant differences (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe positivity rate of RhoA in the BLF is higher in asthma patients allergic to dust mites than in normal healthy subjects, increases with the clinical grade.