Effect of leukotriene receptor antagonist on HMGB1 expression in the lungs of asthmatic mice

Objective To investigate the effect of leukotriene receptor antagonist on the expression of high mobility group box 1(HMGB1) in the lungs of asthmatic mice.Methods Seventy-two SPF female Balb/c mice were randomly divided into asthmatic group(A),montelukast therapeutic group(B) and normal saline control group(C) with 24 mice each.After establishment of asthma,pathologic changes were observed with HE staining and the expression of HMGB1 mRNA was detected in the lung tissues by reverse transcription-PCR on the 1st,2nd,3rd,and 4th week.The distribution of HMGB1 expression marked with immunohistochemistry was analyzed.Results HE staining showed that inflammation of the lung tissue was lighter in group B than that in group A.The expression level of HMGB1 on the 2nd week was significantly higher in groups of A and B than that in group C \[(1.58±0.47) and (1.42±0.30) vs.(0.65±0.15)\](P0.01).The expression level of HMGB1 in group B was reduced as time went on.Conclusion Leukotriene receptor antagonist can inhibit airway inflammation and decrease HMGB1 expression in asthmatic mice.