[Serum levels of ANP signaling in different degree of allergic asthmatics and its role in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between the severity of allergic asthma and the levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and to analyze the potential role of ANP signaling in the pathogenesis of asthma.


METHODS
We recruited 96 subjects, including 23 healthy volunteers, 25 stable allergic asthmatics, 21 mild allergic asthmatics and 27 moderate allergic asthmatics, from the Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University. ANP, IFN-γ and IL-4 levels in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the mRNA and protein expressions of natriuretic peptide receptor A (NPRA), transcription factor T-bet and GATA3 were measured by RT-PCR and Western blot.


RESULTS
The levels of ANP in serum and the expressions of NPRA mRNA and protein in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) from the mild asthma group or the moderate group were elevated compared with those in the stable asthma group or the mild group, respectively (P<0.05). Consistently, expressions of GATA3 and levels of IL-4 showed the same tendency (P<0.05). In addition, levels of ANP in serum were positively correlated with the severity of asthma, whereas negatively correlated with the ratio of T-bet/GATA3 and IFN-γ/IL-4 (r=-0.85, P<0.05; r=-0.88, P<0.05, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Levels of ANP signaling in serum were significantly increased with the severity of allergic asthma, suggesting a close relation with the pathogenesis of asthma; ANP signaling may play a role in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma through inducing the Th2-type immune response.
Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University; Institute of Respiratory Diseases, The Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin Guangxi 541001, China.
Yuanyuan
Y
Yu
Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University; Institute of Respiratory Diseases, The Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin Guangxi 541001, China.
Jinrong
J
Zeng
Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University; Institute of Respiratory Diseases, The Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin Guangxi 541001, China.
Yabing
Y
Sun
Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University; Institute of Respiratory Diseases, The Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin Guangxi 541001, China.
Jianghong
J
Wei
Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University; Institute of Respiratory Diseases, The Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin Guangxi 541001, China.
Jianwei
J
Huang
Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University; Institute of Respiratory Diseases, The Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin Guangxi 541001, China.
Libing
L
Ma
D001249:Asthma; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005326:Fetal Proteins; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017461:Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D015398:Signal Transduction; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D000098908:Brachyury Protein
D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D005326:Fetal Proteins; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D015847:Interleukin-4; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017461:Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D000098908:Brachyury Protein; C494749:GATA3 protein, human; C508598:IL4 protein, human; C091715:atrial natriuretic factor receptor A