[The expression of protein kinase C and the regulatory effect of nerve growth factor in the lung and the visceral sensory afferent system of asthmatic guinea pigs].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the expression of protein kinase C (PKC) and the regulatory effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) in the lung and the visceral sensory afferent system (C(7)-T(5) spinal ganglia and the corresponding posterior horn of the spinal cord) of asthmatic guinea pigs.


METHODS
Forty guinea pigs were divided to four groups, a saline control group (group A, n = 8), a provocation alone control group (group B, n = 8), an asthmatic group (group C, n = 12) and an anti-NGF group (group D, n = 12). The alterations of PKC immunoreactivity were investigated by means of immunohistochemistry in the C(7)-T(5) spinal ganglia and the corresponding posterior horn of the spinal cord of all groups. The expressions of NGF and PKC were investigated by Western blot in the lung, C(7)-T(5) spinal ganglia and the corresponding posterior horn of the spinal cord of all groups. The results were analyzed by the Luzex-F real time image analysis system and the gel imaging analysis system respectively.


RESULTS
(1) Immunohistochemistry results: The absorbency (A) values of PKC were 0.102 +/- 0.009, 0.113 +/- 0.009, 0.106 +/- 0.005 and 0.116 +/- 0.007 in the C(7)-T(5) spinal ganglia and the corresponding posterior horn of the spinal cord of group A and group B respectively. There was no significant difference between group A and group B (P > 0.05). The A values of PKC were 0.215 +/- 0.014 and 0.176 +/- 0.010 respectively in the C(7)-T(5) spinal ganglia and the corresponding posterior horn of the spinal cord of group C, which were significantly different compared with group A (P < 0.01). The A values of PKC were 0.140 +/- 0.008 and 0.130 +/- 0.011 respectively in the C(7)-T(5) spinal ganglia and the corresponding posterior horn of the spinal cord of group D, which were significantly different compared with group C (P < 0.01). (2) Western blot results: Compared with group A (the relative A values were 0.51 +/- 0.02, 0.43 +/- 0.01 and 0.92 +/- 0.02 respectively) and group B, the expression of PKC (the relative A values were 1.51 +/- 0.01, 1.40 +/- 0.03 and 2.22 +/- 0.02 respectively) increased markedly in the lung, C(7)-T(5) spinal ganglia and the corresponding posterior horn of the spinal cord of group C; however, the expression of PKC of group D (the relative A values were 0.80 +/- 0.03, 0.83 +/- 0.01 and 1.12 +/- 0.02 respectively) decreased markedly in comparison with group C.


CONCLUSIONS
The present results indicate that PKC might be involved in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma, and NGF can upregulate the expression of PKC.
Cao
De-shou
DS
Department of Anatomy, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China.
Liu
Xiao-xiang
XX
Gong
Yong-feng
YF
Liu
Li
L
Fang
Xiu-bin
XB
D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism; D017833:Visceral Afferents / Q000378:metabolism
D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D011493:Protein Kinase C