Effect of ligustrazine on the expression of p38 mitogen-activated protein inase p38MAPK) and tryptase in asthmatic mice

Objective To investigate the effects of ligustrazine on the expression of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p38MAPK) and tryptase in asthmatic mice.Methods 30 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group,asthmatic group and ligustrazine intervention group,with 10 mice in each group.Mice in the asthmatic group and the ligustrazine intervention group were treated with chicken ovalbumin(OVA) and adjuvant(aluminum hydroxide).One hour before mice in the ligustrazine intervention group were exposed to OVA aerosol,80 mg/kg ligustrazine were given by intraperitoneal injection,while the control group was given intraperitoneal injection of normal saline for sensitization and inhalation.Within 24 hours after the last challenge,mice were sacrificed to take right middle lobe for lung slices,which were examined histologically.The expression of p38MAPK and tryptase were semi-quantitative determied by using immunohistochemistry SP method.Results The pathological changes in the ligustrazine intervention group were better than that of the asthmatic group.The results of immunohistochemical determination showed that lung tissue of mice p38MAPK(MOD: 0.156±0.003) and tryptase(MOD: 0.204±0.006) in the ligustrazine intervention group less than those of the asthma group [p38MAPK MOD: 0.217±0.014,tryptase MOD: 0.239±0.011](P0.05).Conclusion The results of gustrazine alleviating airway inflammation in asthma may be achieved by influencing p38 protein kinase signaling pathway and the activation of mast cells.