title: TNF-alpha augments the expression of RhoA in the rat bronchus.
abstract: While nonspecific airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) is a central feature of allergic bronchial asthma, the mechanism underlying the development of AHR is not clearly understood. We have previously demonstrated in vitro hyperresponsiveness of bronchial smooth muscle to acetylcholine (ACh) in rats that were actively sensitized and repeatedly challenged with aerosolized antigen. It has also been demonstrated that the ACh-induced, RhoA-mediated Ca(2+) sensitization is markedly augmented concomitantly with an increased expression and activation of RhoA protein in the bronchial smooth muscle of the antigen-treated rats. In the present study, we have investigated whether TNF-alpha, a proinflammatory cytokine which is involved in bronchial asthma, causes upregulation of RhoA mRNA and protein in the rat bronchus. Treatment of rat bronchial smooth muscle preparations with TNF-alpha (300 ng/ml for 24 hr) significantly shifted the concentration-response curve to ACh upwards, but did not alter the response to high K(+), when compared to that of control tissues. Levels of RhoA mRNA and protein in the TNF-alpha-treated bronchus were significantly greater than those in the control group. In conclusion, it is suggested that the augmentation of the ACh-induced contractile response evoked by TNF-alpha might be mediated by an upregulation of RhoA in rat bronchial smooth muscle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Hoshi University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyasu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Shinobu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Otogoto
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chiba
authors.forename: Kazuho
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Miwa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Misawa
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein; D000109:Acetylcholine