Effect of nuclear factor-kappaB on airway remodeling in asthmatic rats

In order to investigate the effect of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) on airway remodeling in asthmatic rats, 18 Wistar rats were divided into three groups: asthmatic group; pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) group, in which rats were injected intraperitoneally with NF-kappaB specific inhibitor PDTC (100 mg/kg) before ovalbumin (OVA) challenge; control group. The NF-kappaB activity and the expression of inhibitory protein kappaBalpha (I-kappaBalpha) in airway were detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), Western blot and immunohistochemistry respectively. The infiltration of inflammatory cells, the number of Goblet cells, the area of collagen and smooth muscle in airway were measured by means of image analysis system. The results showed that with the up-regulation of airway NF-kappaB activity in asthmatic group, the number of goblet cells (3.084 +/- 0.86/100 microm basement membrane (BM)), the area of collagen (24.71 +/- 4.24 microm2/microm BM) and smooth muscle (13.81 +/- 2.11 microm2/microm BM) in airway were significantly increased (P<0.05) as compared with control group (0.14 +/- 0.05/100 microm BM, 14.31 +/- 3.16 microm2/microm BM and 7.67 +/- 2.35 microm2/microm BM respectively) and PDTC group (0.33 +/- 0.14/100 microm BM, 18.16 +/- 2.85 microm/microm BM and 8.95 +/- 2.16 microm2/microm BM respectively). However, there was no significant difference between PDTC group and control group (P>0.05). It was concluded that the activity of NF-kappaB is increased in airway of asthmatic rats. Inhibition of NF-kappaB activation can attenuate constructional changes in asthma airway, suggesting NF-kappaB may contribute to asthmatic airway remodeling.