Role of pulmonary surfactant in regulating dendritic cell function of murine asthma models

    SU Binª²Xiao, NI Dianª²Tao

    Department of Respiratory Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¬ðan 710033, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To explore the mechanisms of exogenous pulmonary surfactant(PS) in regulating the immunity of murine asthma models and its effect on dendritic cell (DC) function of the spleen of the asthma models. METHODS: Murine asthma models were established with ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge and the models were confirmed by histological analysis of lung tissues. FACS was used to measure the expression of CD80 on DC derived from the spleen of OVAª²sensitized and challenged mice. PS was inhaled after OVA challenge by 20 g/L for 2, 5, 10, 15 and 20 min. ILª²12 in DC culture medium was tested at 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 h and data were analyzed with SPSS 10.0 software. RESULTS: Histological analysis results of lung tissues were consistent with the characteristics of murine asthma model. The expression rate of CD80 on spleenª²derived DC in asthma group significantly increased compared with that in PS group (P<0.01) and CD80 expression rate was the lowest when PS was inhaled for 2 min. ILª²12 in asthma group decreased compared with that in PS group (P<0.01). PS group kept ILª²12 at a high level for a long time while ILª²12 expression level was low and lasted for a short time in asthma group. CONCLUSION: Abnormal DC function is existent in murine asthma models and exogenous surfactant can regulate the DC function by suppressing the expression of CD80 on DC and increasing the level of ILª²12 secreted by DC, which can improve the respiratory function when the asthma is challenged. ......