Effects of fluvastatin on the airway remodeling in a guinea pig model of asthma
Song Li-qiang · Zhongguo bingli shengli zazhi · 2002
AIM: To investigate the effects of fluvastatin on the airway remodeling in a guinea pig model of asthma. METHODS: Asthmatic guinea pig model was established by intraabdominal injection of ovalbumin and aluminium hydroxide and challenged with ovalbumin once every other day for 60 days. 30 guinea pigs were randomly divided into three groups: control group ( n= 10), asthma group ( n= 10) and fluvastatin plus asthma group ( n= 10) in which fluvastatin was inhaled at concentration of 0.5 g/L 30 min before every challenging. The thickness of airway smooth muscle layers of every three groups were compared after Haematin-Eosin staining by image analysis system. The level of ras mRNA in airway were examined by Dot-blot molecular hybridization. The expression levels of ras p21 were also examined by immunohistochemical technique. RESULTS: The mean thickness of airway smooth muscle in asthma group was (74 27±3 30) micrometer, greater than that of control group [(38 57±3 37) micrometer ( P 0 01)]; the airway smooth muscle layer in fluvastatin plus asthma group was thinner than that of asthma group [(51 70±4 13) micrometer ( P 0 05)]. The transcription and expression level of ras was increased in the muscle layers of asthma group than that of control group. While the transcription and expression of ras in fluvastatin plus asthma group was reduced significantly. CONCLUSION: Fluvastatin could prevent the airway remodeling of asthma guinea pigs through inhibiting the signal transduction mediated by ras p21.