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Role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 signaling pathway in migration of bronchial smooth muscle cells of chronic asthmatic rats

Xie Min, Liu Xiansheng, Xu Yongjian, Zhang Zhenxiang, Bai Jing, NI Wang, Chen Shixin

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.Wuhan 430030,Hubei

Abstract

This work was designed to explore the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 （ERK1/2） signaling pathway in migration of bronchial smooth muscle cells （BSMCs） of chronic asthmatic rats. To make chronic asthma model, Wistar rats underwent ovabumin （OVA） injection and eight-week inhalation. BSMCs were cultured in vitro. The expression of ERKI/2 in BSMCs was analyzed by immunocytochemistry, Western blot and RT-PCR. Migration of BSMCs was detected by both plate test and Boyden cell test. Results showed： （1） With Western blot technique, the ratio of p-ERKI/2 to total ERKI/2 in chronic asthmatic group was obviously higher than that in the control group （0.55±0.05 vs 0.48±0.04, n=10, P〈0.01）. （2） With RT-PCR, the relative A values of ERK1 and ERK2 mRNA in airways of chronic asthmatic rats were 1.83±0.24 and 1.07±0.11, respectively, which were significantly increased compared with that in the control group （0.58±0.14 and 0.51±0.12, n=10, P〈O.01）. （3） In plate test, the migration of BSMCs of chronic asthmatic rats was 2.9 times of that in the control group and reached 5.0 times by epidermal growth factor （EGF） stimulation, but decreased to 1.7 times by 30 μmnol/L PD98059. （4） In Boyden cell test, the migration of BSMCs of chronic asthmatic rats was 1.9 times of that in the control group, and reached 3.1 times by EGF stimulation, but decreased to 1.45 times by 30 μmol/L PD98059. Our results indicate that the migration ability of BSMCs of chronic asthmatic rats increases, and ERK1/2 signaling pathway may play an important role in this process.

Key words: extracellular signal-regulated kinase;Asthma;bronchial smooth muscle cell;migration

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Citing This Article：

Xie Min, Liu Xiansheng, Xu Yongjian, Zhang Zhenxiang, Bai Jing, NI Wang, Chen Shixin. Role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 signaling pathway in migration of bronchial smooth muscle cells of chronic asthmatic rats. Acta Physiol Sin 2007; 59 (1): 94-102 (in Chinese with English abstract).