Effects of glucocorticoid on IL-13-induced Muc5ac expression in airways of mice.
- Author:
Jianbo, LIU
;
Zhenxiang, ZHANG
;
Yongjian, XU
;
Lihua, XING
;
Huilan, ZHANG
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/cytology;
Dexamethasone/*pharmacology;
Interleukin-13/*pharmacology;
Mice, Inbred BALB C;
Mucins/*biosynthesis;
Mucins/genetics;
Mucus/secretion;
RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis;
RNA, Messenger/genetics;
Random Allocation;
Respiratory System/*metabolism
- From:
Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Medical Sciences)
2004;24(6):575-7
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
To study the effects of glucocorticoid on the IL-13-induced Muc5ac expression in airways of mice, and investigate its role in mucus secretion of airways, 24 pathogen-free BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 3 groups. IL-13 group received an nasal instillation of 100 microg of recombinant murine IL-13 solution on days 1, 3 and 5. In dexamethasone group, dexamethasone (0.5 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally 24 h before and 1 h before the first instillation of IL-13 and on 4 consecutive days (day 0 to day 5, 6 consecutive days in total), while control group was not treated with IL-13 or dexamethasone. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected and eosinophils were counted, and expression of Muc5ac mRNA and protein in lungs were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technology and immunohistochemical assay respectively. Our results showed that the number of mice, with positve Muc5ac protein expression, expression of Muc5ac mRNA and eosinophils in BALF after IL-13 treatment were all significantly higher than that of control group (all P<0.01). Despite eosinophils reduced (P<0.01), the number of mice with positive Muc5ac protein expression, expression of Muc5ac mRNA afterdexamethasone treatment didn't decreas significantly as compared with that of IL-13 group. It is concluded that IL-13 can up-regulate the expression of Muc5ac mRNA and protein, which may play a pivotal role in the mucus overproduction of airways. Dexamethasone can suppress IL-13-induced eosinophilic infiltration in lung but can't inhibit the mucus overproduction.
