title: [Effect of dexamethasone on expressions of TWEAK and Fn14 in the lung of asthmatic mice].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of dexamethasone (Dex) on the expressions of TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) and fibroblast growth factor-inducible immediate-early response protein 14 (Fn14) in the lung of asthmatic mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ovalbumin (OVA) was used to induce asthma in BALB/c mice. Thirty-six female mice were randomly divided into control group (n=12),  asthmatic group (n=12) and Dex treated group (n=12). The airway inflammation was evaluated by HE staining. The expressions of TWEAK and Fn14 at mRNA and protein levels were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry,  respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both mRNA and protein levels of TWEAK and Fn14 in the asthmatic model group were significantly higher than those of control group (P<0.01),  and both mRNA and protein levels of TWEAK and Fn14 in the Dex treated group were significantly lower than those of asthmatic group (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dex can reduce the airway inflammation through inhibiting the expressions of TWEAK and Fn14.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jun-Hong
authors.forename: Ya-ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Wen-yan
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Wei-ying
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D000074049:Cytokine TWEAK; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D000074050:TWEAK Receptor; D000079424:Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000074049:Cytokine TWEAK; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D000074050:TWEAK Receptor; C000613299:Tnfrsf12a protein, mouse; C491645:Tnfsf12 protein, mouse; D000079424:Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors; D003907:Dexamethasone