Objective: To investigate the effects of murine IL-12 (mIL-12) gene on the expression of CD44 and CD49d on pulmonary leukocytes.
Material and methods: BALB/c mice (n = 24) were sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) by intraperitoneal injection and challenged with OVA aerosol for 7 consecutive days. mIL-12 plasmid was then intramuscularly administered in eight BALB/c mice every second day for three times during OVA challenge.
Results: Administration of mIL-12 plasmid significantly reduced airway hyperreactivity, the expression of CD44 and CD49d on pulmonary leukocytes, pulmonary infiltration of inflammatory cells, Th2 cytokines production and goblet cell hyperplasia (P < 0.05). Importantly, the percentages of CD44+/CD49d+ leucocytes showed positive correlations with numbers of inflammatory cells, goblet cells hyperplasia and levels of IL-4 and IL-5 (P < 0.01).
Conclusions: Our study suggests that CD44 and CD49d might contribute to the preventive effects of mIL-12 gene in asthma.