TSLP promotes recruitment of myofibroblasts into airway in asthmatic mice / 中国免疫学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate whether thymic stromal lymphopoietin ( TSLP) participate in asthmatic airway remodeling partially by promoting myofibroblast accumulating in the lung. Methods:Twelve mice evenly were randomly divided into four groups:a saline group;an HDM-exposed group;an IgG isotype-treated group and an anti-TSLP-treated group. The supernatant of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( BALF) was used to analyze the levels of TSLP,IL-25 and IL-33 by ELISA. Fluorescence-labeled collagenⅠ( ColⅠ)/α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) -dual-positive myofibroblasts were examined by confocal microscopy. Results:Chronic allergen exposure induced obviously abnormal airway structural changes,which were inhibited by blocking TSLP. We detected a highly increased number of myofibroblasts in the sub-epithelial zone in mice from HDM-challenged group. However, TSLP neutralization significantly reduced myofibroblasts recruitment. Moreover,blocking TSLP not only decreased the level of TSLP,but also inhibited the expression levels of TGF-β1 and IL-33 in BAL fluid. Conclusion:The results suggest that orchestrating myofibroblasts recruiting into the lungs is one of the main pathogenesis that TSLP involves in airway remodeling in asthmatic mice.