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Dexamethasone reduces IL-17 and Tim-3 expression in BALF of asthmatic mice

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Summary

This study investigated the expression of interleukin-17 (IL-17) and T cell immunoglobulin mucin and domain-containing molecule-3 (Tim-3) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of asthmatic mice and the effect of dexamethasone (DEX) on these factors. Thirty-six mice were randomly divided into three groups: normal group, asthmatic group and DEX group. The mouse model of asthma was established by sensitization with ovalbumin in both the asthmatic and DEX groups. The levels of IL-6, IL-10, IL-17 and TGF-β were measured in BALF by enzyme-linked immunesorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA expression level of Tim-3 was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The ratio of Tim-3+CD4+ cells to total CD4+ cells in BALF was determined by flow cytometry. Differential inflammatory cells in BALF were detected. The correlations among IL-17, IL-6, IL-10, Tim-3 and inflammatory cells were analyzed. The results showed that the levels of IL-17, IL-6 and Tim-3 were substantially increased and the IL-10 level decreased in BALF in the asthmatic mice, which was significantly reversed by DEX treatment. IL-17 expression was positively correlated with IL-6 and Tim-3 expression and the number of inflammatory cells but negatively with IL-10 expression. These results indicate that the increased expression of IL-17 and Tim-3 in BALF may be implicated in the occurrence and development of asthmatic inflammation; the mechanism by which DEX suppresses asthmatic airway inflammation involves down-regulation of IL-17 and Tim-3 levels.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Wuhan Women and Children Health Care Center, Wuhan, 430030, China

    Xiao-xia Lu  (陆小霞), Jia-li Xu  (徐佳莉), Hai-qin Wang  (王海勤), Peng Chen  (陈 鹏) & He-bin Chen  (陈和斌)

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University School of Medicine and Public Health, Columbus, 43085, USA

    Karen S. McCoy

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China

    Wei-kun Hu  (胡维琨)

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  1. Xiao-xia Lu  (陆小霞)
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  2. Karen S. McCoy
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  3. Wei-kun Hu  (胡维琨)
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  4. Jia-li Xu  (徐佳莉)
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  5. Hai-qin Wang  (王海勤)
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  6. Peng Chen  (陈 鹏)
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  7. He-bin Chen  (陈和斌)
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Correspondence to Xiao-xia Lu  (陆小霞).

Additional information

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81200006), the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (No. 2010CDB08804), and Wuhan Health Bureau Foundation (No. WX11B10) and by Wu Jieping Medical Fund (No. 32067501285).

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Lu, Xx., McCoy, K.S., Hu, Wk. et al. Dexamethasone reduces IL-17 and Tim-3 expression in BALF of asthmatic mice. J. Huazhong Univ. Sci. Technol. [Med. Sci.] 33, 479–484 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11596-013-1145-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11596-013-1145-4

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