[The role of dexamethasone on airway wall remodeling].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of inhaled dexamethasone on airway wall remodeling.


METHODS
Asthmatic guinea pig models were established, after guinea pigs inhaled ovalbumin and dexamethasone, the thickness of airway wall was determined by contour tracing, using a digitizing pad and microcomputer. To culture airway smooth muscle cells, observe the effect of histamine, thromboxane A(2) and dexamethasone on cultured cells.


RESULTS
The mean thickness of airway smooth muscle in asthma group was (90 +/- 14) micrometer, greater than that of control (54 +/- 7) micrometer (P < 0.01); the airway smooth muscle layer in dexamethasone group (61 +/- 11) micrometer was thinner than that of asthma group (P < 0.01). [(3)H]-TdR incorporation in histamine group (2 950 +/- 205) counts/min was higher, comparing to that of the control (613 +/- 52) counts/min (P < 0.01); [(3)H]-TdR incorporation in dexamethasone group was (1 067 +/- 96) counts/min, lower than those of histamine group (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Dexamethasone could prevent airway remodeling, and had no harmful effect on airway wall.
Li
S
S
Department of Respiratory Disease, Xijing hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
Qi
H
H
Di
X
X
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006632:Histamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014316:Tritium
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D014316:Tritium; D013928:Thromboxane A2; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006632:Histamine; D010047:Ovalbumin; D013936:Thymidine