Effects of Guben Fangxiao Decoction on the mRNA Expression of Genes Related to Airway Goblet Cell Hyperplasia and Mucus Hypersecretion in a Murine Asthma Remission Model

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of Guben Fangxiao Decoction on mRNA expression of airway goblet cells hyperplasia and mucus hypersecretion-associated genes like IRE1β， SPDEF， AGR2， and mCLCA3 in mice model with asthma at remission stage. METHODS Based on the previous study， OVA sensitization combined with RSV sensitization was applied to establish the asthma model on BALB/c female mice， which were randomly divided into the normal group， model group， Guben Fangxiao Decoction of low， middle and high dose groups， montelukast sodium group and dexamethasone group. qPCR was applied to detect the expression of IRE1β， SPDEF， AGR2 and mCLCA3 mRNA in the lung tissue. RESULTS The expressions of IRE1β， SPDEF and AGR2 mRNA in the lung tissue of the model group were significantly higher than those of the normal group(P<0.05)， while the mCLCA3 mRNA expression was much lower than the normal group(P<0.05). The mCLCA3 mRNA expressions in the lung tissue of Guben Fangxiao Decoction with low， middle and high dosage groups， montelukast sodium group and dexamethasone group experienced decline to different degree. Whereas the mCLCA3 mRNA levels in the Guben Fangxiao Decoction Low dose group and montelukast sodium group were significantly higher than those of the normal group(P<0.05). CONCLUSION Gubenfangxiao Decoction can significantly attenuate RSV-OVA-induced airway goblet cells hyperplasia and mucus hypersecretion in murine asthma remission model. These effects may be mediated， at least partially， by suppressing the mRNA expression of IRE1β， SPDEF and AGR2.