Objective To investigate the effects of FasL gene-modified dendritic cell (DC) on the airway inflammation in mice sensitized/challenged by house dust mite (HDM) allergen.Methods FasL gene-modified DC (FasL-DC) and control DC (nontransfection DC) were administrated into HDM sensitized and challenged mice by intratracheal injection respectively，then HDM sensitized and challenged mice were sacreificed two days later.Total and differentiation cell counts and levels of interleukin-4（IL-4），IL-5 and interferon-γ(IFN-) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected and lung histological features were observed.Results After administration of FasL-DC，lung allergic inflammation was ameliorated while total cell counts，the percentage of eosinophil ,the levels of IL-4 and IL-5 in BALF decreased and the level of IFN- in BALF increased.Conclusion Administrating FasL-DC into HDM sensitized/challenged mice can inhibit Th2 cells activation and ameliorate airway allergic inflammation.
Objective To explore the effects of dioscin (Dio) on airway inflammation and microRNA-155 (miR-155)/cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2)/prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) pathways in asthmatic mice. Methods Seventy mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, inhibitor negative control group (inhibitor-NC group), miR-155 inhibitor group, and Dio group, Dio+miR-155 mimic negative control group (Dio+mimic-NC group), Dio+miR-155 mimic group, with 10 mice in each group. Using house dust mite to induce the preparation of asthma mouse models; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the levels of PGE2, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), cysteyl leukotrienes (CysLTs), cysteyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CysLTR1) and interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13 in mouse bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF); hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid-Schiff staining were used to observe the infiltration of inflammatory cells around the airway and the secretion of mucus by goblet cells; quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect the expression levels of miR-155 and COX-2 mRNA in mouse lung tissue; Western blot was used detect the expression of COX-2 protein in mouse lung tissue. Results MiR-155 inhibitor and Dio could reduce the levels of PGE2, TNF-α, CysLTs, CysLTR1 and IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in BALF of asthmatic mice, reduce lung tissue inflammatory cell infiltration and goblet cell mucus secretion, and reduce lung tissue miR-155, COX-2 mRNA and protein expression; and miR-155 mimic could significantly weaken the anti-asthma effect of Dio. Conclusion The anti-asthma effect of Dio may be related to the inhibition of miR-155/COX-2/PGE2 pathway to reduce airway inflammation in asthmatic mice.
Objective To observe the effect of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor MCC950 intervention on airway Muc5ac level in asthmatic mice, and to explore the role and mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome in asthmatic airway mucus hypersecretion. Methods A total of 50 SPF grade BALB/c female mice aged 6 - 8 weeks were randomly divided into normal control group (NS group), asthma model group (AS group), dexamethasone group (Dex group), MCC950 high-dose intervention group (MH group) and MCC950 low-dose intervention group (ML group), with 10 mice in each group. Furthermore, the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of mice in each group was counted by total cell count, associated with white blood cell different count. In addition, the concentrations of interleukin (IL)-18 and IL-1β in BALF were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; The lung tissues were prepared into paraffin-embedded sections, which were then subject to hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, Alcian blue-periodic acid Schiff base staining and Masson staining to observe the pathological changes of lung tissues. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expression levels of Muc5ac, NLRP3 and caspase-1 in lung tissues. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the relative mRNA expressions of Muc5ac, NLRP3 and Caspase-1 in lung tissues. Results Compared with NS group, AS group showed significant increase in total cell count of BALF, the percentage of eosinophils, the infiltration score of inflammatory cells around the airway, the positive relative staining area of airway mucus and the deposition area of airway collagen fibers in mice (P<0.05), upregulated protein expression levels of Muc5ac, NLRP3 and Caspase-1 in lung tissues (P<0.05), elevated relative mRNA expressions of Muc5ac, NLRP3 and Caspase-1 in lung tissues (P<0.05), and raised concentrations of IL-18 and IL-1β in BALF (P<0.05). While compared with AS group, the above indicators were reduced in MH group and ML group (P<0.05). Moreover, in relative to Dex group, these indicators were increased in MH group ML group (P<0.05). In addition, no statistically significant difference was observed in the aforementioned indications between MH group and ML group.Conclusions MCC950 intervention can inhibit airway inflammation and airway mucus secretion in asthmatic mice. Its mechanism is speculated to be related to the suppression of NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-18 and IL-1β expressions, downregulation of Muc5ac expression, and inhibition in airway mucus hypersecretion.