Effect of dexamethasone on eosinophil apoptosis and expression of interleukin-5 mRNA and interleukin-10 mRNA in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of asthmatic guinea pig

AIM: To investigate the effect of dexamethasone on eosinophil apoptosis and expression of interleukin-5 mRNA and interleukin-10 mRNA in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of asthmatic guinea pig. METHODS: 30 Hartley male guinea pigs were divided into 3 groups randomly: dexamethasone group, asthma group and control group. The EOS apoptosis, IL-5 mRNA and IL-10 mRNA expressions were measured by the techniques of TUNEL and RT-PCR. RESULTS: The EOS in BALF of dexamethasone group decreased prominently compared with the asthma group (P 0.01 ); the EOS apoptosis increased (P 0.01 ) significantly. The level of IL-5 mRNA was prominently lower than that of the asthma group (P 0.05 ). The level of IL-10mRNA increased markedly compared with the asthma group (P 0.05 ). CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone can restrain the EOS ascending, increase EOS apoptosis effectively through reducing the expression of IL-5 mRNA and increasing the expression of IL-10 mRNA in asthmatic guinea pigs' respiratory passage.