Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of early inhaled budesonide on the expression of nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) and intercellular adhesion molecule(ICAM-1) in airway epithelial cells of asthma rats.Methods30 rats were randomly divided into three groups:control group, asthma group and therapeutic group with inhaled budesonide.The expression of NF-κB and ICAM-1 in bronchial epithelium were observed with immunohistochemical staining and computer image analysis system.ResultsThe expression of NF-κB, ICAM-1 and subepithelial collagen deposition were significantly highly in asthma group than those of control group and of therapeutic group (P<0.01 respectively). There was a close correlation between the expression of NF-κB and ICAM-1 in asthma rats (r=0.61,P<0.01), as well as between the expression of ICAM-1 and supepithelial collagen(r=0.47,P<0.01).ConclusionThe excessive expression of NF-κB and ICAM-1 play an important role in the pathogenesis of airway remodeling in asthma.Budesonide can influence airway remodeling by downregulating the expression of NF-κB and ICAM-1.

Key words: asthma, airway remodeling, nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB), intercellular adhesion molecule(ICAM-1), glucocorticoid