Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of artesunate on eosinophil (EOS) apoptosis and Fas and Bcl-2 protein expressions in asthmatic mice. METHODS: Thirty female BALB/c mice aged 6-8 weeks were randomly divided into control group, asthma group and artesunate group. Except for those in the control group, all the mice were sensitized with aerosolized ovalbumin to establish mouse models of asthma. In artesunate group, the rats were intraperitoneally injected with artesunate 1 h before ovalbumin inhalation from the 21st day of modeling. The lung tissues were harvested for staining 24 h after the last challenge. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the percentage and apoptosis rate of EOS in the alveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The apoptosis of EOS in the lung tissue was detected with TUNEL method, and Fas and Bcl-2 protein expressions were detected using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with those in asthma group, the artesunate-treated mice had significantly decreased percentage of EOS in the BALF (P < 0.05) with increased apoptosis rate of EOS in the BALF and the lung tissue (P < 0.05). The Fas-positive area and IOD of Fas protein in the lung tissue increased (P < 0.05) while the Bcl-2-positive area and IOD of Bcl-2 protein decreased significantly in artesunate-treated mice as compared with the asthmatic mice (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Artesunate regulates the protein expressions of Fas and Bcl-2 to reduce EOS infiltration in the lung tissue and promote EOS apoptosis in asthmatic mice.