ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the expression of connective tissue growth factor( CTGF) and the effects of azithromycin in airway remodeling in asthmatic mice.Methods BALB/c female mice were randomly divided into 3 groups;control group(A),asthma group(B) ,and azithromycin treated group(C),with 10 mice in each group.Mice were sensitized and challenged continually with ovalbumin( OVA).The distribution and types of collagens were detected by cirius red staining.Lung hydroxyproline content was determined by acid hydrolysis.CTCF expression in mice pulmonary tissues was detected by SABC immunohistochemistry.Results After continual challenging with OVA,collagen hyperplasia was found in the airway wall and CTCF positive expression in airway epithelium.CTCF expression was closely associated with lung hydroxyproline content(r = 0.65,P <0.01).Conclusion Asthma continually challenged with OVA could result sub-epithelial fibrosis and remodeling in airway,which could be associated with the upregulation of CTCF over-expression.Azithromycin inhibited airway remodeling in asthmatic mice,possibly by inhibiting the expression of CTGF.