Overexpression of Homeobox A1 Relieves Ovalbumin-Induced Asthma in Mice and Is Associated with Blocking of the NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

Homeobox A1 (HOXA1) is a protein coding gene involved in regulating immunity signaling. This study aims to explore the function and mechanism of HOXA1 in asthma. An asthma mouse model was established via ovalbumin (OVA) induction. Airway hyperresponsiveness was evaluated by the value of pause enhancement (Penh). Inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected by Trypan blue and Wright staining. The pathological morphology of lung tissues was assessed by H&E staining. The IgE and inflammatory biomarkers (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α) in BALF and lung tissues were measured by ELISA. Western blot was performed to detect the expression of NF-κB pathway-related proteins. HOXA1 was down-regulated in OVA-induced asthmatic mice. Overexpression of HOXA1 decreased Penh and relieved pathological injury of lung tissues in OVA-induced mice. Overexpression of HOXA1 also reduced the numbers of total cells, leukocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes, as well as the levels of IgE, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α in BALF of OVA-induced mice. The inflammatory biomarkers were also decreased in lung tissues by HOXA1 overexpression. In addition, HOXA1 overexpression blocked the NF-κB signaling pathway in OVA-induced mice. Overexpression of HOXA1 relieved OVA-induced asthma in female mice, which is associated with the blocking of the NF-κB signaling pathway.