Abstract
BackgroundAsthma is the lung disease that influenced more than 350 million people in worldwide. ASM spasm leads to AHR and bronchial obstruction that are acute symptoms of asthma attack. BTX is bacteria toxin that acts as muscle relaxant and may have therapeutic effect on AHR and asthma. Therefore, the effect of BTX on the AHR and related gene expression was evaluated.MethodsAfter producing of asthma mice model, which were treated with BTX in two ways; IN and N (0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 U/ml). AHR was measured on day 24, 26, 28, 30 and gene expression of TrkA, TrkB, M1-M5, α7nAChR, TNF-α and ERK2 were evaluated. At least, in lung histopathology, perivascular and peribronchial inflammation, mucus production and goblet cell hyperplasia were studied. ResultsOn day 24, treatment with BTX for all dosages had no significant effect on AHR but, on day 26 and 28, AHR was decreased and it was continued on day 30 for all treated groups. Treatment with BTX had no significant effect on the expressions of TrkA, TrkB, M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, α7nAChR, TNF-α and ERK2 genes, perivascular inflammation, peribronchial inflammation, hyperplasia of the goblet cell and production of mucus. Also, the mice have been received BTX 10 mg/ml, were died. ConclusionsBTX therapy controlled asthma attacks via decreasing of AHR and induction of relaxation in the ASMs. But, it has no significant effect on inflammation and mucus production. In using of BTX, attention to the safe dose and prevention of dangerous side effects are necessary.