[Effects of tumor necrosis factor-α converting enzyme on mucous hypersecretion in inflammatory airway].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of tumor necrosis factor-α converting enzyme (TACE) on mucous hypersecretion in inflammatory airway.

METHODS: Mucous hypersecretion model of human lung adenocarcinoma cells A549 was induced by human neutrophil elastase (HNE), and TNF-α converting enzyme inhibitor-1 (TAPI-1), an inhibitor of TACE, was chosen for the inference study. The expression of MUC5AC and TACE was examined. Th e cells were divided into 5 groups: a negative control group, HNE1 (15 nmol/L) group, HNE2 (25 nmol/L) group, HNE3 (50 nmol/L) group and TAPI-1 group. RT-PCR was used to examine MUC5AC and TACE mRNA expression. The protein expression of TACE and MUC5AC was examined by Western blot and ELISA, respectively.

RESULTS: HNE induced the TACE and MUC5AC mRNA and protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. Compared with the control group, the increases were all significantly increased in the three dosages of HNE group (P< 0.01). The HNE-induced TACE and MUC5AC mRNA and protein expression were dramatically attenuated in the presence of TAPI-1, an inhibitor of TACE (P< 0.01).

CONCLUSION: TACE participated cell signalling pathway of airway mucous hypersecretion, and could down regulation the level of inflammation airway mucous hypersecretion.