[Expression of protein arginine N-methyltransferases in E3 rat models of acute asthma].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the expression of protein arginine N-methyltransferase (PRMT) genes in the lung and spleen of E3 rats with acute asthma.


METHODS
E3 rats with ovalbumin-induced pulmonary inflammation were divided into two groups (n=10), and the validity of the acute asthma model was evaluated by histological observation with HE and PAS staining and by measurement of NO production. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was employed to detect the expressions of PRMT1-PRMT6 genes in the lung and spleen tissues of the rats.


RESULTS
In the lung tissue of the asthmatic rats, the gene expressions of PRMT1 (P<0.01), PRMT2 (P<0.01), PRMT3 (P<0.05) and PRMT5 (P<0.05) were significantly increased, but the expression of PRMT4 gene (P<0.05) was significantly decreased as compared with those in the control tissue. In the spleen tissue of the asthmatic rats, the expressions of PRMT2 (P<0.05) and PRMT5 genes (P<0.05) showed a significant increase as compared with those in the control rat tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
The gene expressions of PRMTs vary significantly between asthmatic rats and control rats, suggesting that PRMTs play an important role in the post-translational modification process of asthma-related genes.
Sun
Qing-zhu
QZ
Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biology, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, Xi'an 710061, China.
Jiao
Fang-fang
FF
Yang
Xu-dong
XD
Zhong
Bo
B
Jiang
Mei-hua
MH
Li
Guo-liang
GL
Lü
Bin
B
Han
Yan
Y
Ning
Qi-lan
QL
Zhang
Fu-jun
FJ
Sun
Jian
J
Lü
She-min
SM
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D011484:Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D011484:Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases