title: [Effect of N-acetylcysteine on HMGB1 and RAGE expression in the lungs of asthmatic mice].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of HMGB1 and RAGE mRNA in the lungs of asthmatic mice and the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on their expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control group, asthma group and NAC group (n=7). The expressions of HMGB1 and RAGE mRNA and their distributions in the lungs were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression levels of HMGB1 and RAGE mRNA were not significantly different between the control group (0.88-/+0.02 and 1.20-/+0.20, respectively) and the asthma model group (0.86-/+0.05 and 1.21-/+0.08, P>0.05). After NAC treatment, both of HMGB1 and RAGE mRNA levels (0.98-/+0.05 and 1.58-/+0.21) were significantly higher than those in the other two groups (P<0.05). HMGB1 was found in the nuclei and membrane of the bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells, and RAGE was located on the membrane of the alveolar epithelial cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HMGB1 and RAGE may play a role in the oxidative stress during asthma, but the exact mechanism needs further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. flk1981@126.com
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Shao-xi
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Hai-jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Wen-jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wan-cheng
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Tong
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D024243:HMGB1 Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011897:Random Allocation; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D024243:HMGB1 Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C498977:Mok protein, mouse; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D000111:Acetylcysteine