Expression of heme oxygenase-1 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells from asthmatic patients

Abstract

To explore the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and its relationship with pulmonary ventilation function in asthmatic patients, 18 asthmatic patients and 18 healthy subjects were selected. HO-1 protein and mRNA levels in PBMCs were measured by immunohistochemical staining and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. Blood carbon monoxide Hb (COHb), serum total IgE and pulmonary ventilatory function were observed. Our results showed that the percentage of cells positive for immunohistochemical staining of HO-1 were significantly higher in asthmatic patients (41.72±7.44)% than that in with healthy subjects (10.45±4.36)% (P<0.001) and the optical density of PBMC HO-1 mRNA was higher in asthmatic patients (26.05±4.14) than that in healthy subjects (10.82±4.26) (P<0.001). The relation analysis showed that PBMC HO-1 protein and mRNA levels had significantly negative relation with FEV₁%, PEFR, MEFR_50%, respectively (r=−0.51–0.89,P<0.05–0.001, respectively) and a positive relation with COHb and serum total IgE (r =0.48–0.85, 0.05–0.001, respectively). It is concluded that the expression of PBMC HO-1 protein and mRNA increased significantly in asthmatic patients, and HO-1 may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of asthma. The expression of HO-1 may bear a relation with severity of asthma.

Keywords

heme oxygenase-1 / asthma / peripheral blood mononuclear cells

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