Effects of Dexamethasone on bcl-2 expression and eosinophils apoptosis in asthmatic guinea pigs

Objective To study the relationship between the eosinophils(Eos) apoptosis and bcl-2 expression in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) of asthmatic guinea pig,and its changes after Dexamethasone(DM) treatment.Methods The asthmatic guinea pigs were treated by DM.The apoptosis of Eos was detected by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling;the bcl-2 mRNA expression of Eos was measured by hybridization.Results Apoptotic Eos in asthma group were significantly less than that in normal control group(P 0.01).DM up-regulated the Eos apoptosis in both groups(P 0.01).The bcl-2 mRNA expression of Eos in asthma group was higher than that in normal control group.The bcl-2 mRNA expression of Eos in asthma group decreased significantly after DM treatment(P0.05).Conclusion (bcl-2) may be one of the important factors regulating apoptosis of Eos in asthma.DM can down-regulate the bcl-2 expression,but promote apoptosis of Eos in lung of asthmatic guinea pigs.