Animal experimental study on interleukin-23 and bronchial asthma

Objective:To explore the effect of interleukin-23(IL-23) on bronchial asthma.Methods:Thirty female BALB/c rats were randomly divided into group A(asthma model),group B(corticosteroid treatment) and group C(normal control),10 rats in each group.The serum IL-23 level was detected by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay(ELISA).Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BLAF) was collected for eosinophils count.The pathological changes of lung was observed by HE staining,and the invasive depth of peribronchial inflammatory cells was evaluated by semiquantitative analysis.The expression of IL-23 in lung tissues was determined by immunohistochemical SP method.Results:①The rats in group A had changed ethology,the eosinophils count in BLAF increased observably,inflammatory reaction with obvious eosinophils invasion was observed by lung tissue pathology,on the basis of the above,the bronchial asthma model was successful.②The serum IL-23 level of group A [(155.56±12.5) pg/ml] was higher than that of group C [(51.49±6.34) pg/ml](P0.01);while the serum IL-23 level of group B [(88.00±6.43) pg/ml] was lower than that of group A(P0.01).③The level of IL-23 in lung tissues of group A was high than that of group C(P0.01);but the level of IL-23 in lung tissues of group B was lower than that of group A(P0.01).④There was no correlation between IL-23 levels in serum or lung tissues and eosinophils.Conclusion:IL-23 participates in the pathogenesis of asthma,which can be inhibited by glucocorticoid.IL-23 affects eosinophils indirectly.