Expression of P38 MAPK and MMP-2 mRNA in neonatal rats with hyperoxia-induced lung injury / 中国当代儿科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (P38 MAPK) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) mRNA expression level changes in neonatal rats with hyperoxia-induced lung injury,and to investigate the influence of P38 MAPK activation on MMP-2 mRNA expression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups air control, hyperoxia and SB203580-treated hyperoxia (n=12). The rats were sacrificed on the 3rd and 7th days and the lungs were removed. Hematoxylin-eosine staining was used to observe the pathological changes in lung tissues.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the air and SB203580-treated groups, levels of P38 MAPK and MMP-2 mRNA significantly increased in the hyperoxia group (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Expression of P38 MAPK increases in neonatal rats with hyperoxia-induced acute lung injury and this may play a role in control of the expression of MMP-2 mRNA.</p>