[The effect of triptolide on the proliferation of airway smooth muscle and the expression of c-fos and c-jun in asthmatic rats].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of triptolide on airway smooth muscle (ASM) proliferation and expressions of c-fos and c-jun in asthmatic rats.


METHODS
70 healthy male sprague-dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups of 10 each. The asthmatic model was established by ovalbumin inhalation and injection. The mRNA expression of c-fos and c-jun were examined by RT-PCR and their protein expression by immunohistochemical method. The airway wall thickness, the ASM thickness, the number of ASM nucleus and pulmonary tissue changes were observed with microscope.


RESULTS
c-fos and c-jun mRNA and protein expressions of asthma groups A and five therapy groups (C, D, E, F and G) were significantly higher than those in the control group B (P < 0.01). The expressions were lower in group C, D, E, F and G than those in group A (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the expressions among group C, D, E, F and G (P > 0.05). Triptolide decreased ASM proliferation pathologically in asthmatic rats.


CONCLUSIONS
ASM proliferation is a feature of asthma. c-fos and c-jun may promote ASM proliferation in asthma. The remarkable inhibition of ASM proliferation by triptolide was probably due to its inhibitory effect on the expression of c-fos and c-jun.
Department of Intensive Care Unit, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, China.
Yuanli
Y
Zhang
Jianyou
J
He
Biao
B
Liang
Zeqing
Z
Song
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000235:genetics*; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004224:Diterpenes; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C001899:triptolide