ObjectivesTo detect expressions of trefoil factor 1 (TFF1) and TFF3 in the mice with acute allergic airway disease (AAD) after different interventions, and explore primitively the effect of recombinant TFF3 on airway inflammation and mucous secretion.MethodsForty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 5 groups, each group with 8 mice, ie. a normal saline control group (group A), an AAD group (group B), a budesonide intervention group (group C), a recombinant TFF3 intervention group (group D), and a budesonide+recombinant TFF3 intervention group (group D). The BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin to induce AAD. Lung tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin staining for assessment of airway inflammation, and immunohistochemistry was used for detecting TFF1/TFF3 expression in the airway. Alcian blue stain was applied to determine mucous secretion.ResultsAirway inflammation score and airway mucous secretion: Group B was significantly more than group A (P<0.01); Group C was less than group B (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between group D and group B (P>0.05); There was no significant difference between group C and group E (P>0.05). Expression of TFFs: TFF1 and TFF3 were expressed in epithelial cells, goblet cells and submucosal gland cells of bronchi and bronchioles in all groups; The expressions of TFF1 and TFF3 in group B were significantly higher than those in group A (P<0.01), while the expressions of TFF1 and TFF3 in group C were lower than those in group B (P<0.05). TFF1 expression in airway epithelium was positively correlated with inflammatory score (r=0.876, P=0.000) and mucin expression (r=0.807, P=0.000). TFF3 level was positively correlated with inflammatory score (r=0.654, P=0.006) and mucin expression (r=0.666, P=0.005).ConclusionsOvalbumin-induced acute allergic airway inflammation significantly increases TFF1/TFF3 expression. Intranasal TFF3 treatment may not influence airway inflammation and mucus secretion. Inhaled corticosteroids to some extent inhibit expressions of TFF1 and TFF3, simultaneously suppress airway inflammation and mucus secretion in the mouse model of acute AAD .