title: Increased expression of glycodelin mRNA and protein in rat lungs during ovalbumin-induced allergic airway inflammation.
abstract: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease accompanied by airway obstruction and hyper-responsiveness. Asthmatic inflammation is characterized by the expression of multiple genes for inflammatory mediators. Glycodelin is a glycoprotein with several functions in cell recognition and differentiation. There is substantial evidence that glycodelin may be a mediator for immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive effects on several human tissues. To determine the potential role of glycodelin in the pulmonary immune response, we examined the distribution of the glycodelin mRNA and protein in an experimental rat model of allergen-induced airway inflammation. The experimental model developed an airway response to inhaled nebulized ovalbumin in adult rats. Two groups of rats (ovalbumin and saline) were challenged for 3 weeks, lungs were fixed and embedded, and sections were studied for expression of glycodelin mRNA by in situ hybridization and protein by immunohistochemistry. Glycodelin is expressed in Clara cells of bronchial epithelium, type II pneumocytes and alveolar macrophages. Densitometric analyses show a significant increase of the glycodelin mRNA and protein expression in rat lungs after ovalbumin challenge. Induced glycodelin amounts in tissue, particularly in Clara cells and alveolar macrophages were found. The altered expression pattern of glycodelin may contribute to the pulmonary immune response in asthmatic inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathophysiology, Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald, Karlsburg, Germany. keil@uni-greifswald.de
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kunert-Keil
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jeschke
authors.forename: Giles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simms
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kasper
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics*; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000737:chemistry; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C489046:Gd protein, rat; D006023:Glycoproteins; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D010047:Ovalbumin