[Effect of montelukast sodium intervention on airway remodeling and percentage of Th17 cells/CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in asthmatic mice].
OBJECTIVE
To study the dynamic changes in the percentage of Th17 cells/CD4+CD25+regulatory T cells after intervention with montelukast sodium, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, in asthmatic mice and the association between them.


METHODS
Balb/c mice were randomly divided into blank group, asthma group, and montelukast sodium group. The asthmatic mouse model of airway remodeling was established by sensitization with intraperitoneal injection of chicken ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum hydroxide suspension and aerosol inhalation of OVA. The mice in the blank group were given normal saline, and those in the montelukast sodium group were given montelukast sodium by gavage before aerosol inhalation. Eight mice were randomly sacrificed within 24 hours after 2, 4, and 8 weeks of aerosol inhalation. The pathological sections of lung tissue were used to observe the degree of airway remodeling. Flow cytometry was used to measure the percentages of Th17 cells and CD4+CD25+regulatory T cells in CD4+T cells.


RESULTS
The asthma group and the montelukast sodium group had significantly higher bronchial wall thickness and smooth muscle thickness at all time points compared with the blank group (P<0.05). At 8 weeks of intervention, the montelukast sodium group had significantly greater improvements in the above changes compared with the asthma group (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the asthma group and the montelukast sodium group had significant increases in Th17 cells (positively correlated with airway remodeling) and significant reductions in CD4+CD25+regulatory T cells (negatively correlated to airway remodeling) at all time points (P<0.05). At 8 weeks of intervention, the montelukast sodium group had a significant reduction in the number of Th17 cells and a significant increase in the number of CD4+CD25+regulatory T cells compared with the asthma group (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Montelukast sodium intervention can alleviate airway remodeling and achieve better improvements over the time of intervention. The possible mechanism may be related to the improvement of immunologic derangement of CD4+CD25+regulatory T cells and inhibition of airway inflammation.
Department of Pediatrics, The East Ward of Sichuan Academy of Medical Science & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu 610110, China. lmscsy@aliyun.com.cn.
Li
L
Li
Chun-Yan
CY
Lou
Min
M
Li
Jian-Bo
JB
Zhang
Jie
J
Chen
D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D056151:Airway Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D005260:Female; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011804:Quinolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013440:Sulfides; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D000085:Acetates; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D011804:Quinolines; D013440:Sulfides; C093875:montelukast