Abstract
Objective: To identify the role and regulation of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in in asthmatic airway remodeling.
Methods: The expression of TSLP, α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen I were detected by immunohistochemistry. we silenced or overexpressed TSLP in human lung fibroblast cell (HLF-1) by shRNA approaches or transfection, and TSLPR was detected by ELISA and Western blot. Total signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3),the phosphorylation of STAT3 and TSLP, α-SMA, collagen I expression were detected by Western blot. The α-SMA,collagen I mRNA expression were determined by quantitative RT-PCR. we inhibited Stat3 activity by targeted small molecules and then detected TSLP-induced expression of α-SMA,collagen I in both mRNA and protein levels by quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot. Results: Overexpression of TSLP,α-SMA and collagen I were detected in epithelium of asthma patients (A,B1-2). TSLPR was expressed in HLF (C1-2). The phosphorylated STAT3 and upregulation of α-SMA,collagen I were induced by the introduction of TSLP in HLF-1 (D1-3), and the repression of α-SMA,collagen I were detected after TSLP silencing (E1-3). We found that TSLP-induced α-SMA,collagen I upregulation is in a STAT3 dependent manner, (F1-4).
Conclusion: TSLP functions in asthmatic airway remodeling through STAT3 signaling pathway.
Keywords: asthma, TSLP, airway remodeling, STAT3.
- © 2012 ERS
