Neurokinin 1 receptor promotes rat airway smooth muscle cell migration in asthmatic airway remodelling by enhancing tubulin expression

摘要

Background: Airway remodelling is a major contributor to hyper-responsiveness leading to chronic asthma; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) antagonist (WIN62577) on the migration of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) and the expression of NK1R and alpha-tubulin in airway remodelling using young rats with asthma. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group and airway remodelling group. Rats in the model group were stimulated with ovalbumin for 8 weeks. Primary ASMCs were cultured and purified from all rats, and then treated with different doses of WIN62577. The expression of NK1R and α-tubulin in ASMCs was assessed using immunofluorescence, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and western blotting. Changes in ASMC migration were detected by a transwell chamber assay. Results: The transwell assay showed that the number of migrating ASMCs in the asthmatic airway remodelling group was significantly greater than that in the control group (P ?8 mol/L. The mRNA and protein expression levels of NK1R and α-tubulin were significantly higher in the asthmatic airway remodelling group than in the control group (P Conclusions: NK1R antagonists may suppress ASMC migration in a rat model of airway remodelling by inhibiting tubulin expression, indicating a new potential target for the treatment and control of chronic asthma.