Effect of cigarette smoke exposure on expression of OX-62 protein and interleukin-12 in asthmatic rats

Objective To investigate the impact of cigarette smoke exposure on the number and distribution of dendritic cells(DC) and expression of interleukin-12 (IL-12) in asthmatic rats.Methods Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups:a control group,a asthma group,and a exposure group.Establish the rats model of every group.The changes in leukocyte and different kinds of leukocyte in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) have been studied.The number and distribution of DC was determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.The concentration of IL-12 in peripheral blood and lung BALF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results ①Compared with control group,the number of leukocytes,lymphocytes,neutrophils and eosinophils of BALF in asthma group and exposure group was remarkably increased ( P ＜0.01),compared with asthma group,the number of ieukocytes and neutrophils of BALF increased remarkably in exposure group ( P ＜0.01).②Compared with control group,the number of DC in asthma group and exposure group was remarkably increased( P ＜0.01),compared with asthma group,the number of DC increased remarkably in exposure group ( P ＜0.01).Meanwhile the number of DC in exposure group was more than that in asthma group( P ＜0.01).③Compared with control group,protein expression of OX-62 in asthma group and exposure group was remarkably increased,compared with asthma group,protein expression of OX-62increased remarkably in exposure group (P ＜0.01).④Compared with the control group,IL-12 of peripheral blood and BALF decreased remarkably in asthma group and exposure group ( P ＜ 0.01 ).Compared with asthma group,IL-12 of peripheral blood and BALF decreased remarkably in exposure group ( P ＜0.01).⑤The correlation analysis:the number of lung DC was negatively correlated with IL12 of peripheral blood and BALF( P ＜0.01).Conclusions Cigarette smoke exposure can up-regulate the number of DC and down-regulate the expression of IL-10 and IL-12,which might play an important role in aggravating airway inflammation in asthmatic rats. Key words: Smoking exposure;  Bronchial asthma ; Dendritic cells; OX-62 ;  Interleukin-12