Abstract
Objective To evaluate the activity of Ca2+ /CaN-NFATc, and study its association with the imbalance of TH1/ TH2 in asthmatic rat lungs. Methods Twenty-four Wistar rats were random divided to the asthma group and control group, twelve rats each group. The rats were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin to establish the asthmatic model. The pulmonary function of rats was surveyed and evaluated u-sing Maclab system. Airway inflammation and the thickness of bronchial wall ( WAt/Pi) were observed by H. E staining. The quantity of Ca2+ , the activity of CaN , the protein expression of dephosphorylated NFATc and the level of IL-4 and IL-2 were assayed.Results Compared with control group, the thickness of bronchial wall was significantly increased ( t = -7. 99, P <0. 01), the airway resistance was higher( t = 2.59, P <0.05) and the respiration frequency was faster( t =7.94, P <0.01) ,but the minute ventilation volume was lower( t =6. 87, P <0.01) in asthma group. The levels of IL-4 and the IL-4/ IL-2 ratio in rat lungs of asthma group were significantly higher than those in control group ( t = -8.69, P <0. 01; t = 11.40, P <0. 01 .respectively) , however, the levels of IL-2 in asthma group were lower than that in control group ( t =8. 29, P <0. 01). The activity of CaN and the protein expression of dephosphorylated NFATc in asthma group were higher than those in control group( t = -2. 91, P <0.01; t = -22.45, P <0.01,respectively) ,but the quantity of Ca2+ in asthma group was lower than that in control group( t =4. 747, P < 0.01). There wag a positive correlation between the activity of CaN and the protein expression of dephos-phorylated NFATc( r =0. 39, P <0.05) ,so did between the protein expression of dephosphorylated NFATc and the IL-4/ IL-2 ratio( r =0. 83-, P <0.01) ,and the same between the thickness of bronchial wall and the IL-4/ IL-2 ratio( r = 0. 84, P < 0.01). Conclusions The activity of CaN-NFATc was increased in rat lungs of asthma group, and the rising of which might increase the ratio IL-4/ IL-2. Thus, the signal of CaN-NFATc probably took part in the imbalance of TH1/ TH2 in asthmatic rat lungs. Key words: Asthma/BI; Lung/BI; Calcium/BI; Cahnodulin-binding proteins/BI; Phosphoprotein phosphatases/BI; Interleukin-4/BI; Interleukin-2/BI
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