Correlation between the signal pathway IKK/NF-κB and the anti-oxidant activity in asthma rats and the modulation of Ginkgo biloba extract

AIM: To investigate the correlation between the signal pathway of IKK/NF-κB and the anti-oxidant activity in asthmatic rats and the modulation of Ginkgo biloba extract (Egb). METHODS: Thirty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group (group C), asthmatic group (group A) and Egb group(group E). Asthma in rats was established by ovalbumin (OVA) challenge methods. The mRNA of IKKβ and the protein of NF-κB P65 in lung tissue were assessed by using in situ hybridization with oligonucleotide probe and immunohistochemisty, respectively. RESULTS: The expression of IKKβ mRNA and NF-κB P65 protein in group A were significantly increased when compared with group C (P0.01, respectively), but those data in group E were significantly decreased when compared with group A (P0.01, respectively). The concentrations of MDA in serum and BLAF in group A were significantly higher than those in control group (P0.01,respectively), but the concentrations of MDA in group E were significantly lower than those in group A (P0.01, respectively). The concentrations of GSH in group A were significantly lower than those in group C (P0.01, respectively), but the concentrations of GSH in group E were significantly higher than those in group A (P0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: The expression of IKKβ mRNA and NF-κB P65 protein were increased significantly in asthmatic rats. This was possibly attributed to the decreased anti-oxidant activity. Egb increased the anti-oxidant activity and inhibited the activity of IKK/NF-κB.