Effects of dexamethasone on IL-4 and IFN-γ in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and NF-κB in lung tissue of asthmatic model in guinea pigs

Objective:To explore the effect of dexamethasone on IL-4 and IFN-γ in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) and NF-κB in the lung tissue of asthmatic model in guinea pigs.Methods: This experiment included normal control group,asthmatic model group,dexamethasone treatment group.Asthmatic models of guinea pigs were constructed by immunization and challenged with nebulized OVA.The levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ in BALF of guinea pigs were determined by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The expression of NF-κB in the lung tissue was observed by immunohistochemical staining.Results: In the asthmatic model group,the levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ in BALF and PC20 had significant differences compared with those of normal control group,respectively(P0.05).The levels of IL-4 in BALF of dexamethasone groups were significantly lower than those of asthmatic model group(P0.05).But the levels of IFN-γ and PC20 in dexamethasone groups were significantly higher than those of asthmatic model group(P0.05).The percentage of NF-κB positive cells in asthmatic model group had significant difference compared with dexamethasone group(P0.05).Conclusion: Dexamethasone can effectively decrease the levels of IL-4 and increase IFN-γ in BALF,it can decrease airway hyperresponsiveness and expression of NF-κB in the asthmatic guinea pigs.