Effect of Aminophyiline on expression of bcl-2 mRNA and apoptosis in eosinophils of asthmatic guinea pigs

Objective To investigate the relationship between apoptosis and bcl-2 expression in eosinophils of bronchoalveolar tavage fluid(BALF)in asthmatic guinea pig and its changes after Aminophylline(AM)treatment. Methods AM has been used in asthmatic guinea pigs.Apoptosis were detected by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling,and bcl-2 mRNA expression by hybridization.Results Apoptotic eosinophils in the asthma group were significantly less than that in the normal control group(P＜0.01),but increased after administration of AM(P＜0.01).bcl-2 mRNA of EOS was moderately expressed in bronchi of normal guinea pig,but increased significantly in asthma group(P＜0.01),there was no significant decrease after AM treatment(P＞0.05).Conclusions bcl- 2 may be one of the important factors regulating apoptosis of eosinophils in asthma.AM can downregulate the bcl- 2 expression,thus promoting apoptosis of eosinophils and increase eosinophils in the lungs of asthmatic guinea pigs,bcl-2 may not be the main pathway of apoptosis of eosinophils in the lung modulated by AM.