Effects of dexamethasone on airway remodeling and interleukin-8 in asthmatic rats

Objective To explore the relationship between airway remodelling and expression of IL-8 and the effect of dexamethasone in asthmatic rats.Methods Asthmatic model was established using ovalbumin(OVA) antigen suspension and ultrasonicatomizing inhalation with ovalbumin(OVA) eight weeks to sensitize.The changes of airway wall morphologic parameter and the relative content of IL-8 in blood serum in the four groups were determined using immunohistochemical technique and a computer assisted image analysis system.Results The various remodeling in airway were observed at all of the rats in E group,L group and N group.The thicknesses of bronchus wall and airway smooth muscle in E group were significantly thinner than those in L group and N group(P 0.05),and the expression of IL-8 in blood serum in E group was lower than those of L group and N group(P 0.05).Conclusion The expression of IL-8 in blood serum of asthmatic rats is related with the thickness of bronchus wall and the thickness of airway smooth muscle in asthmatic rats.DXM can influence airway remodelling by down regulating the expression of IL-8.