Dexmedetomidine Reduces IL-4 and IgE Expression Through Downregulation of TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway to Alleviate Airway Hyperresponsiveness in OVA Mice

Abstract

Background: Asthma is a disease that affects health worldwide. It is characterised by inflammation and airway hyperreactivity. Because airway hyperreactivity can occur in other diseases, perioperative airway hyperreactivity is more insidious and widespread than in asthma and has serious implications that need to be addressed urgently. The use of dexmedetomidine in acute asthma and lung protection has been reported, but the exact mechanism is unclear. Objective: To investigate the effectiveness and mechanisms associated with dexmedetomidine in airway hyperresponsiveness.Methods: Forty BALB/c female mice were randomly divided into five groups: group K (blank group), group A (asthma group), group HD (asthma + dexmedetomidine treatment group), group TH (asthma + yohimbine group) and group HT (asthma + dexmedetomidine + yohimbine group), and the airway resistance of group K, group A and group HD were analysed by invasive airway resistance assay, ELISA assay, immunohistochemistry and q-PCR, respectively. Airway resistance; IL-4 and IgE levels in serum and BLAF; and IL-4, IL-13, Muc5AC, NFκB, TLR2, TLR4 and TSLP1 protein levels in lung tissues of the 5 groups were analysed by invasive airway resistance assay, ELISA, immunohistochemistry and qPCR. Results: Compared with group A, there were statistical differences in airway resistance (P < 0.05); LIL-4 and IgE (P < 0.05) in serum and BLAF; and Muc5AC, TLR4 and NFκB protein contents (P < 0.05) in lung tissues in the HD group. Conclusion: 1. Dexmedetomidine can attenuate airway hyperresponsiveness in the OVA asthma model; 2. Dexmedetomidine reduced the production of IL-4 and IgE by down-regulating the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby reducing the lung inflammatory response and airway hyperresponsiveness in the OVA-induced asthma model.