OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM-2) overexpression on airway inflammation and remodeling in mice with asthma.

METHODSA total of 40 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal control, asthma, empty vector, and TREM-2 overexpression groups (n=10 each). Ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge were performed to establish the model of asthma. The mice in the control group were given normal saline, and those in the empty vector and TREM-2 overexpression groups were transfected with adenovirus vector and TREM-2 adenovirus, respectively. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to measure the expression of TREM-2, MMP-2, MMP-9, ADAM33, and ADAM8. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected to perform cell counting and classification. ELISA was used to measure the total serum level of IgE and the levels of cytokines in BALF.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the asthma group showed significant reductions in the mRNA and protein expression of TREM-2 (P<0.05), a significantly increased level of Th2 cytokine (P<0.05), and significantly increased numbers of total cells and classified cells. Compared with the asthma group, the TREM-2 overexpression group showed a significantly reduced level of Th2 cytokine (P<0.05), a significantly reduced level of IgE (P<0.05), and significantly reduced numbers of total cells and classified cells (P<0.05), as well as significantly downregulated expression of the inflammatory factors and growth factors MMP-2, MMP-9, TGF-β1, ADAM8, and ADAM33 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTREM-2 overexpression significantly alleviates airway inflammation and airway remodeling in mice with asthma and may become a potential target for the prevention and treatment of childhood asthma.