title: [Effect of 1,25-(OH)2D3 on expression of HMGB1 and TLR4 in the lungs of asthmatic mice].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) on the airway remodeling and expression of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the lungs among asthmatic mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty female mice (BALB/c strain) were randomly divided into control, asthma and 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) intervention groups. An asthmatic mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection and aerosol inhalation of ovalbumin. The intervention group was given 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) by intraperitoneal injection 0.5 hour before each aerosol inhalation, while the control group used normal saline instead. The hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the mouse airway structural changes. The mRNA and protein expression of HMGB1 and TLR4 was measured by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The asthma group had a significantly increased airway wall thickness compared with the control group (P<0.05); the intervention group had a significantly lower increase in airway wall thickness than the asthma group (P<0.05). The mRNA and protein expression of HMGB1 and TLR4 was significantly higher in the asthma group than in the control group (P<0.05); the mRNA and protein expression of HMGB1 and TLR4 in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the asthma group, but still higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). A positive correlation was found between the protein expression of HMGB1 and TLR4 (P<0.01), and so was their mRNA expression (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HMGB1 and TLR4 may be involved in asthmatic airway remodeling. 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) can reduce the airway remodeling in asthmatic mice, which may be related to the downregulation of HMGB1 and TLR4 expression in the lungs of asthmatic mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China. LUANBP117@163.com.
authors.forename: Hui-Ru
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Luan
authors.forename: Jun-Ying
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Ya-Zhe
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D056151:Airway Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D024243:HMGB1 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D024243:HMGB1 Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C493487:Tlr4 protein, mouse; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D002117:Calcitriol