title: [Effect of 1,25-(OH)2D3 on expression of TIM-4 in the lungs of asthmatic mice].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish a mouse model of asthmatic airway remodeling and investigate the effects of 1,25-(OH)2D3 on airway structure and T cell immunoglobulin mucin protein-4 (TIM-4) expression in asthmatic mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty female mice (BALB/c strain) were randomly divided into control, asthma and 1,25-(OH)2D3 intervention groups. An asthmatic mouse model was induced using ovalbumin. Lung tissue of the mice was collected, mRNA expression of TIM-4 was evaluated by RT-PCR and airway remodeling and protein expression of TIM-4 were observed by hematoxylineosin staining and immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Typical airway remodeling was found in the asthma group, and TIM-4 expression in this group was significantly higher than in the control group (105±9 vs 42±5; P<0.05). Compared with the asthma group, the 1,25-(OH)2D3 intervention group showed improvement in airway remodeling and a decrease in TIM-4 expression (78±6) (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TIM-4 may be involved in the airway remodeling of mice. As a new type of immunoregulator, 1,25-(OH)2D3 can downregulate expression of TIM-4 in the lungs and improve airway remodeling in asthmatic mice.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China. luanbin0588@tom.com
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: Luan
authors: Ya-Zhe
authors: YZ
authors: Wang
authors: Yan-Li
authors: YL
authors: Zhang
authors: Hui-Ru
authors: HR
authors: Gu
authors: Yan-Ling
authors: YL
authors: Li
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Zhao
mesh_terms: D056151:Airway Remodeling; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000378:metabolism*; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C500399:TIM-4 protein, mouse; D002117:Calcitriol