OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in the mRNA and protein expression of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in lung tissues of asthmatic mice and the interventional effect of vitamin D.

METHODSA total of 48 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control group, asthma group, and 1,25-(OH)Dintervention group, with 16 mice in each group. An animal model of asthma was established, and lung tissue samples were taken in each group at weeks 1 and 2 of ovalbumin challenging. Conventional hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to measure airway wall thickness. Immunohistochemical staining was used to observe the expression of HMGB1, TLR4, and NF-κB in lung tissues. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot were used to investigate the changes in the mRNA and protein expression of HMGB1, TLR4, and NF-κB.

RESULTSAt weeks 1 and 2 of ovalbumin challenging, compared with the control group, the asthma group had a significant increase in airway wall thickness and the intervention group had a significant reduction compared with the asthma group (P<0.05). The asthma group had significantly higher mRNA expression of HMGB1, TLR4, and NF-κB in lung tissues than the control group, and the intervention group had significantly lower mRNA expression of TLR4 and NF-κB than the asthma group (P<0.05). At week 1 of ovalbumin challenging, there was no significant difference in the mRNA expression of HMGB1 between the intervention group and the asthma group (P>0.05). At week 2, the intervention group had a significant reduction in the mRNA expression of HMGB1 compared with the asthma group (P<0.05). At weeks 1 and 2 of ovalbumin challenging, the asthma group had significantly higher protein expression of HMGB1, TLR4, and NF-κB in lung tissues than the control group, and the intervention group had significantly lower expression than the asthma group (P<0.05). Airway wall thickness was positively correlated with the mRNA expression of HMGB1, TLR4, and NF-κB in lung tissues (r=0.804, 0.895, and 0.834; P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway plays an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma, and an appropriate amount of 1,25-(OH)Dhas a regulatory effect on this pathway and may prevent the progression of asthma. Therefore, 1,25-(OH)Dis expected to become a new choice for the treatment of asthma.