Activation of NF-kappa B in bronchial epithelial cells from children with asthma.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) is activated in epithelial cells from children with asthma and to understand the role of NF-kappa B in airway inflammation in asthma.


METHODS
Bronchial mucosa specimens were obtained from 9 children with asthma and 6 control subjects. NF-kappa B expression in epithelial cells were detected by immunohistochemical examination, and NF-kappa B-DNA binding was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA).


RESULTS
Nuclear expression of NF-kappa B in epithelial cells was observed in the 9 asthmatic children. NF-kappa B-DNA binding was found in 4 asthmatic children (EMSA was performed in 6 asthmatic children). In contrast, both nuclear expression and NF-kappa B-DNA binding were absent in the 6 control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicated that NF-kappa B is activated in epithelial cells from asthmatic children and the NF-kappa B activation may be the basis for the increased expression of many inflammatory genes and for airway inflammation in asthma.
Zhao
S
S
Pulmonary Function Laboratory, Beijing Institute of Pediatric Research, Beijing 100045, China.
Qi
Y
Y
Liu
X
X
Jiang
Q
Q
Liu
S
S
Jiang
Y
Y
Jiang
Z
Z
D001249:Asthma / Q000378:metabolism*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism
D016328:NF-kappa B; D009841:Oligonucleotides