Effects of bacterial lipopolysaccharide on serum IL-4, serum IL-8 and pulmonary VEGF expression in mice with asthma / 中国当代儿科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the regulatory role of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS ) in the development of bronchial asthma by examining the effects of LPS on serum IL-4, serum IL-8 and pulmonary vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in mice with asthma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-seven BALB/c mice were randomly assigned into control, asthma and LPS-treated asthma groups (n=9 each). Serum IL-4 and IL-8 concentrations were measured using ELISA. VEGF expression in lung tissues was examined using the immunohistochemical method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Serum IL-4 and IL-8 concentrations in the asthma group were significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.05). LPS treatment significantly decreased serum IL-4 and IL-8 concentrations compared with the asthma group (P<0.05), although levels were significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.05). Airway VEGF expression in the asthma group was significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.05). LPS treatment significantly decreased airway VEGF expression compared with the asthma group (P<0.05), although concentrations remained higher than in the control group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>LPS can decrease serum IL-4, serum IL-8 and pulmonary VEGF expression in mice with asthma, and thus can possibly reduce both airway inflammation and airway vascular remodeling.</p>