Role of external signal regulated kinase signal transduction pathway in airway remodeling of rats with asthma and regulation by glucocorticoids

• Published in: Zhonghua er ke za zhi Vol. 45; no. 4; p. 288
• Main Authors: Li, Chang-Chong, Guan, Xiao-Jun, Zhang, Wei-Xi, Zheng, Yang-Ming, Zhao, Wei, Ye, Le-Ping, Chen, Xiao-Fang, Luo, Yun-Chun, Dong, Lin, Cai, Xiao-Hong, Zhang, Zheng-Xia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: China 01.04.2007
• Subjects: Animals; Asthma - drug therapy; Asthma - metabolism; Bronchi - drug effects; Bronchi - physiology; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases - metabolism; Glucocorticoids - pharmacology; Male; Phosphorylation; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor - metabolism; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos - metabolism; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Signal Transduction
• ISSN: 0578-1310

Airway remodeling in asthma makes treatment of asthma very difficult, and study of its pathogenesis becomes very important. The present study aimed to explore the role of external signal regulated kinase (ERK) signal transduction pathway in airway remodeling in rats asthma model and regulatory effects of glucocorticoids on ERK signal transduction pathway and airway remodeling. Totally 80 male Sprague-Dawlay rats (6-8 weeks old, weighing about 120 g) were randomly divided into control groups (30 rats), asthma groups (30 rats) and treated groups [including a group intervened with dexamethasone (DM group) and budesonide (BUD group), each had 10 rats]. The rats were sensitized for inducing asthma by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin and Al (OH)(3) and were repeatedly exposed to aerosolized ovalbumin for 4, 8, or 12 weeks [respectively called 4, 8 or 12 wk asthma group (A4, A8 or A12 group), each had 10 rats]; and correspondingly control rats were intraperitoneally injected with 0.9% NaCl, then were repeatedl