title: [Role of external signal regulated kinase signal transduction pathway in airway remodeling of rats with asthma and regulation by glucocorticoids].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Airway remodeling in asthma makes treatment of asthma very difficult, and study of its pathogenesis becomes very important. The present study aimed to explore the role of external signal regulated kinase (ERK) signal transduction pathway in airway remodeling in rats asthma model and regulatory effects of glucocorticoids on ERK signal transduction pathway and airway remodeling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally 80 male Sprague-Dawlay rats (6-8 weeks old, weighing about 120 g) were randomly divided into control groups (30 rats), asthma groups (30 rats) and treated groups [including a group intervened with dexamethasone (DM group) and budesonide (BUD group), each had 10 rats]. The rats were sensitized for inducing asthma by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin and Al (OH)(3) and were repeatedly exposed to aerosolized ovalbumin for 4, 8, or 12 weeks [respectively called 4, 8 or 12 wk asthma group (A4, A8 or A12 group), each had 10 rats]; and correspondingly control rats were intraperitoneally injected with 0.9% NaCl, then were repeatedly exposed to 0.9% NaCl for 4, 8, or 12 weeks [respectively called 4, 8 or 12 wk control group (C4, C8 or C12 group), each had 10 rats]; DM group rats were repeatedly exposed to aerosolized ovalbumin for 8 wk, and BUD group rats for 12 wk. Total bronchial wall thickness (Wat) and smooth muscle thickness (Wam) were measured by an image analysis system. Concentrations of PDGF-AB in serum were measured by sandwich ELISA. Phospho-ERK (P-ERK) and c-Fos were detected by immunohistochemical technique; lung tissue extracts were analyzed for phosphorylation of ERK by Western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wat and Wam in all asthma groups were significantly higher than those in corresponding control groups (P < 0.01, respectively), those of the treated groups were significantly lower than asthma groups (P < 0.01). The concentrations of PDGF-AB in serum of asthma groups [(228 +/- 18) pg/ml, (293 +/- 77) pg/ml, (225 +/- 66) pg/ml for A4, A8, A12 groups, respectively] were all significantly higher than those of the control groups [(160 +/- 14) pg/ml, (165 +/- 29) pg/ml and (164 +/- 27) pg/ml for C4, C8, C12 group, respectively] (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05); the value of DM group [(157 +/- 46) pg/ml] was significantly lower than that of the group A8 (P < 0.01), no significant difference was found when the values of BUD group [(208 +/- 40) pg/ml] was compared with that of A12 group (P > 0.05). Mean absorbance values (by immunohistochemistry) of P-ERK and c-Fos in asthma groups were significantly higher than those in corresponding control groups (P < 0.01, respectively), DM group had a significantly lower value than group A8 (P < 0.01), BUD group had a significantly lower value than group A12 (P < 0.01); absorbance (by Western blot) of P-ERK in A4, A8, A12 group was significantly higher than that in C4 and C8 group, the value of DM group was significantly lower than that of group A8 (P < 0.01), and that of BUD group (1.8 +/- 0.2) was significantly lower than that of group A12 (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Asthmatic rats have higher concentrations of PDGF-AB in serum and phosphorylation of ERK and c-Fos; glucocorticoids inhibit phosphorylation of ERK and c-Fos in asthmatic rats, and to some extent also inhibit Wat and Wam.
authors: Division of Pulmonology, Yuying Children's Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou 325027, China.
authors: Chang-Chong
authors: CC
authors: Li
authors: Xiao-Jun
authors: XJ
authors: Guan
authors: Wei-Xi
authors: WX
authors: Zhang
authors: Yang-Ming
authors: YM
authors: Zheng
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Zhao
authors: Le-Ping
authors: LP
authors: Ye
authors: Xiao-Fang
authors: XF
authors: Chen
authors: Yun-Chun
authors: YC
authors: Luo
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Dong
authors: Xiao-Hong
authors: XH
authors: Cai
authors: Zheng-Xia
authors: ZX
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; C095477:platelet-derived growth factor AB; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases