Abstract
Background: Elderly women with asthma are prone to acute exacerbations and side effects of corticosteroids. The progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF) produced from lymphocytes of healthy pregnant women plays a role as immunomodulatory factor in the maintenance of pregnancy by controlling NK activity and the cytokine balance.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the expression levels of PIBF in the serums of elderly asthmatic women and the role of PIBF in the airway inflammation in allergic ovariectomized PIBF-deficiency (+/-) mouse.
Methods: The levels of PIBF were measured by indirect-ELISA assay in serum from asthmatics. An ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma model was established in wild-type (WT) and PIBF deficiency mice which had undergone ovariectomy. We performed bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid analysis, histopathological examination, and estimation of IFN-γ from NK cells in lung or lymph node.
Results: The expression levels of PIBF were significantly reduced in serums of women with asthma compared to control subjects. Especially, PIBF levels in postmenopausal asthmatic women were less than in the premenopausal. OVA-induced airway inflammation was substantially elevated in ovariectomized WT mice compared to sham-operated mice. Airway inflammation and IFN-γ production in lung of lymph node in NK cells in ovariectomized PIBF deficiency mice was markedly increased than WT mice.
Conclusion: The downregulation of PIBF was associated with in elderly asthmatic women. Based on an elevated airway inflammation in ovariectomized murine asthma model and allergic PIBF deficiency mice, we suggest that PIBF may have anti-inflammatory effect.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2020; 56: Suppl. 64, 1419.
This abstract was presented at the 2020 ERS International Congress, in session “Respiratory viruses in the "pre COVID-19" era”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2020