Methods: Using NCI-H292 human airway epithelial cells, we measured phorbol 12-myrisate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced MUC5B mRNA expression with the treatment of indicated doses of EGCG. We also measured PMA-induced MUC5B protein secretion with the treatment of indicated doses of EGCG using ELISA technique in NCI-H292 cells. To test the brief signaling pathways, we performed activation study of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, which is well-known to signaling the PMA-induced mucin gene over-expression, using Western blot technique in NCI-H292 cells. And then we performed in vivo study using ovalbumin-induced asthmatic mice model and control mice group. In ovalbumin-sensitized asthmatic mice model, EGCG was treated with indicated dose. And then ovalbumin was challenged and we sacrificed the mice. Tissue samples from the mice were stained with PAS (periodic acid-Schiff) for mucin distribution in bronchioles of each group. Immunocytochemical stain was performed using MUC5B specific antibody. MUC5B mRNA and protein level was measured using extracted lung tissues.
Results: PMA-induced MUC5B mRNA and protein level was significantly decreased after treatment of EGCG at all doses in NCI-H292 cells. PMA-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was significantly decreased after treatment of EGCG at all doses in NCI-H292 cells. Results from in vivo studies showed that decreased bronchiolar mucin distribution in the group of pretreated with EGCG in asthmatic mice. MUC5B mRNA and protein levels were significantly decreased in the group of pretreated with EGCG in asthmatic mice.
Conclusions: PMA-induced MUC5B mRNA and protein over-expression in both NCI-H292 cells and extracted tissues from asthmatic mice were significantly decreased with the treatment of EGCG. We demonstrated that EGCG down-regulates mucin gene expression through the MAPK signaling pathway in asthma.