嗜酸性粒细胞主要碱性蛋白mRNA在支气管哮喘中的表达及意义

Expression of eosinophil major basic protein mRNA in bronchial asthma

目的探讨嗜酸性粒细胞主要碱性蛋白(MBP)mRNA在支气管哮喘中的表达及意义。方法采用逆转录聚合酶链反应技术(RT-PCR)对40例哮喘患者及20例正常对照者的MBPmRNA表达水平进行半定量分析。探讨了外周血MBPmRNA表达水平与患者嗜酸性粒细胞数量、肺功能的关系。结果(1)哮喘患者组的嗜酸性粒细胞计数(0.86±0.52)和MBPmRNA表达水平(0.37±0.11)均远高于正常对照组(0.21±0.10,P<0.001)和(0.17±0.04,P<0.001);(2)在哮喘患者中,中度持续哮喘组MBPmRNA表达水平(0.42±0.05)和重度持续哮喘组(0.47±0.05),远高于轻度持续哮喘组MBPmRNA表达水平(0.25±0.06,P<0.001)。同时,在中度和重度持续哮喘组间,MBPmRNA含量也存在显著差异(P<0.05);(3)哮喘患者的MBPmRNA表达水平同患者肺功能呈负相关(r=-0.7490,P<0.001)。结论哮喘患者中MBPmRNA表达水平的增高可能与哮喘病情的严重程度密切相关。MBP可能在哮喘疾病的发展过程中起着非常重要的作用。

Objective To investigate the expression of eosinophil major basic protein （MBP） mRNA in bronchial asthma and explore its significance. Methods Peripheral blood eosinophil MBP mRNA levels were measured in 40 patients with asthma and 20 normal controls by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The association of MBP mRNA levels with eosinophil count and pulmonary function was also analyzed. Results Compared with the normal control group, MBP mRNA level were significantly increased in asthma patients （0.37±0.11 vs 0.17±0.04, P〈0.001）, so was the eosinophil count （0.86±0.52 vs 0.21±0.10, P〈0.001）. MBP mRNA levels in patients with moderate persistent asthma （0.42±0.05） and those with severe persistent asthma （0.47± 0.05） were significantly higher than those in patients with mild persistent asthma （0.25±0.06, P〈0.001）, and the difference in MBP mRNA levels between moderate persistent asthma patients and severe ones was also significant （P〈0.05）. Among the asthma patients, MBP mRNA levels showed an inverse correlation with pulmonary function （r=-0.749 0, P〈0.001）. Conclusion Increased MBP mRNA expression level may correlate with the severity of asthma. MBP may play an important role in the development of asthma.