Effect Of Curcumin On The Expression Of P38 Protein Kinase And MiR-21 In Asthmatic Mice

Object:To investigate the effect of curcumin on the expression of phosphorylated-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases and mi R-21 in lungs of asthmatic mice.Methods:40 SPF female BALB/c mice were randomized into five groups:normal control group, model group,dexamethasone group,curcumin group,and SB203580group( n = 8).We recorded the performance of mice in each group.The morphology of the lung tissue of mice were observed by Hematoxylin-eosin staining,and the changes of p-p38 MAPK were detected by westernblot. The concentration of IL-4 in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay. The expression of mi R-21 was detected by real-time quantitative PCR.Result:1 The performance of all miceDuring the sensitization period,all mice showed normal behavior. In the challenge phase,compared with the model group,the asthma symptoms of mice in the last three medicine groups were significantly improved,such as wheezing,shortness of breath,cough, sneezing, belly breathing and so on.Meanwhile normal control group performed normal.2 The morphological results of the lung tissueIn normal control group,there demonstrated no perivascular or peribronchial inflammatory infiltrates in the lungs,which appeared normal and no bronchial wall thickness.Compared with the model group,it showed that the peribronchial inflammatory cells infiltration and bronchial wall thickness were reduced significantly in the last three medicine groups.3 The expression change of p-p38 MAPK and mi R-21 in the lung and IL-4 in serumCompared with normal control group,the expression of p-p38 MAPK,mi R-21 and IL-4 markedly increased in model group(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the down-regulation of p-p38 MAPK,mi R-21 and IL-4 were obvious in three medicated groups.(P<0.01).And it showed no significant difference in those indicators that we mentioned among those three medicated groups.The expression of p-p38 MAPK and mi R-21 showed positive correlation with the concentration of IL-4(r=0.933,r=0.962;P<0.01).Meanwhile there was a strong positive correlation between mi R-21 expression and p-p38 MAPK expression(r=0.931,P<0.01).Conclusion:The therapeutic action of curcumin on asthma may be through inhibiting p38 MAPK signal pathway via the down-regulation of mi R-21.