title: [Effect of dexamethasone on expression of interleukin-21 and phospho-STAT3 in a murine model of chronic asthma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of dexamethasone on the expression of interleukin-21 (IL-21) and phospho- STAT3 (p-STAT3) in a murine model of chronic asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three female BALB/C mice were randomly divided into control group, asthmatic group and dexamethasone-treated group (n=11). In the latter two groups, asthmatic models were established by ovalbumin administration. The cells in the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were counted and classified. The airway inflammation was evaluated by HE staining, and the expressions of IL-21 and p-STAT3 in the lung tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total cell number and lymphocyte number in the BALF were significantly higher in asthmatic group than in the control group and dexamethasone group (P/0.01). Compared with the control group, the asthmatic group showed significantly increased protein expressions of IL-21 and p-STAT3 (P<0.05), which were reduced by dexamethasone intervention (P/0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dexamethasone can inhibit the expression of IL-21 and p-STAT3 in the murine model of chronic asthma, suggesting the importance of IL-21/STAT3 signaling pathway in the therapeutic mechanisms of dexamethasone for asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. gongjing0622@163.com
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Yaling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Zhan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Weiying
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Junhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000378:metabolism*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010766:Phosphorylation; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494087:Stat3 protein, mouse; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000098546:Interleukin-21