Effects of NK-1R inhibitor WIN62577 on the migration of airway smooth muscle cells in asthmatic rats with airway remodeling

Abstract:

Objective To study the changes in the migration of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMC) in asthmatic rats with airway remodeling and the effect of NK-1R inhibitor WIN62577 on the migration of ASMC. Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into two groups: airway remodeling induced by asthma and normal control. ASMC from rats with asthma and airway remodeling induced by ovalbumin (OVA) inhalation for 8 weeks were primary cultured and purified. Immunofluorescence and real-time PCR were used to measure the expression of NK-1R. With NK-1R inhibitor WIN62577 treatment, the changes in the migration of ASMC were measured by transwell chambers. Results NK-1R in ASMC was expressed mainly in the cytoplasm and cell membrane in the airway remodeling group, and the mRNA expression of NK-1R was higher than the normal control group (P<0.01). The number of the migrated ASMC in the airway remodeling group was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (P<0.01). Various concentrations (10^-11 mol/L, 10^-10 mol/L, 10^-9 mol/L and 10^-8 mol/L) of WIN62577 treatment decreased the number of the migrated ASMC (P<0.05). Conclusions NK-1R may affect airway remodeling possibly through promoting the migration ability of ASMC in rats with asthma.