Expression of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 in pulmonary tissue of premature newborn rat exposed to hyperoxia

Objective To investigate the changes and potential roles of the expression of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1(ASK1),thioredoxin(Trx)and thioredoxin reductase(TrxR)in the pathogenesis of lung injury of premature newborn rats exposed to hyperoxia. Methods In the first day after delivery,preterm SD rats were randomly divided into air group and hyperoxia group with 64 rats in each.The rats were respectively sacrificed at 1,4,7,10 and 14 days after air or hyperoxia exposure.Sections of 1ungs were stained with HE to observe the histologic changes.Trx and TrxR mRNA were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression and distribution of ASK1.Western blot was used to detect the expression of ASK1 protein. Results Rats in hyperoxia group showed typical lung injury,which was characterized by alveolitis and delayed of lung development.Immunohistochemistry detected that ASK1 expressed generally in the cytoplasm of both alveolar epithelial cells and vascular endothelial cells:ASK1 protein expression in hyperoxia group at 1th and 4th day were 0.4382±0.0227 and 0.5270±0.0432,higher than in the air group(0.3458±0.0263 and 0.3760±0.0058)(P<0.01),and it was until 7th day that the expression became weaker(0.4343±0.0254),but still higher compared with the air group(0.3473±0.0220)(P<0.01).Compared with the air group,Trx and TrxR mRNA of the hyperoxia group increased significantly and peaked at lOth day(0.6860±0.0811)and 7th day(2.0351±0.1600),respectively(P<0.05).ASK1 protein expressions resulting Key words: Hyperoxia; Infant,premature; Thioredoxins; Thioredoxin-disulfide reductase; Lung diseases