[NF-kappa B activation and the inhibitory effect of dexamethasone in experimental asthmatic guinea pigs].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of NF-kappa B in pathogenesis of asthma.


METHODS
Electrophoresis mobility shift assay and supershift assay were used to analyze the expression of NF-kappa B activation and its components.


RESULTS
Nuclear extracts prepared from the thoracic blood mononuclear cells and the whole lung tissue, respectively in OVA-sensitized and challenged guinea pigs, both displayed stronger DNA-binding activity at 2 h timepoint (244.1 +/- 2.4; 176.0 +/- 4.0) comparing to the control (167.0 +/- 4.6; 67.3 +/- 2.5), and the activity peaked at 6 h timepoint (294.7 +/- 3.2; 282.3 +/- 6.8) and continued till 12 h timepoint (200.9 +/- 1.2; 110.8 +/- 1.0). The activated NF-kappa B contained p50. Dexamethasone suppressed the NF-kappa B activation (235.4 +/- 3.3; 104.6 +/- 8.4) in the nuclear extracts of the Blood mononuclear cells and the lung tissue, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
This result showed that NF-kappa B were possibly through transcriptionally regulating the expression of many important inflammatory proteins. The dexamethasone could inhibit the activation of NF-kappa B in the allergic model, possibly through which the antiinflammatory action was exerted.
Zhang
Y
Y
Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Guangzhou 510120, China.
Ouyang
N
N
Xu
J
J
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016328:NF-kappa B; D003907:Dexamethasone; D010047:Ovalbumin