Objective To observe the effect of autoblood acupoint-injection(ABAI) on expression levels of pulmonary transacting T-cell-specific transcription factor GATA 3(involving Th 2 cytokine expression)

Th 1-specific T-box transcription factor T-box expressed in T-cells(T-bet) proteins and genes in asthmatic rats so as to explore its mechanisms underlying asthma relief.Methods Forty-eight male SD rats were randomized into normal control(n=8)

model(n=10)

saline acupoint-injection(SAI

n=10)

ABAI(n=10)

and Dexamethasone(DXM

n=10) groups.Asthma model was established during 28 days by 10% Ovalbumin+10% aluminium hydroxide solution injection(i.p.) and vapourized 2% Ovalbumin inhaling for 14 days.For rats of the ABAI group

0.4 mL autoblood was injected into the bilateral "Feishu"(BL 13) or "Shenshu"(BL 23) alternately

once every other day for six times.For rats of the DXM group

50% DXM solution(0.5 mg/kg

i.p.) was given from the 17th day on after starting the modeling

once every other day for 11 days.Pulmonary GATA 3 and T-bet protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry

and GATA 3 mRNA and T-bet mRNA expression detected by real time-PCR.Results In comparison with the normal group

pulmonary GATA 3 protein and mRNA expression levels in the model group were up-regulated significantly(P<0.01)

while T-bet mRNA expression in the model group was down-regulated obviously(P<0.01).Compared to the model group

GATA 3 protein and mRNA expression levels were down-regulated significantly in both ABAI and DXM groups(P<0.01)

while T-bet protein expression in ABAI group and T-bet mRNA expression in both ABAI and DXM groups were up-regulated significantly(P<0.01

P<0.05).No significant differences were found between model and SAI groups

and between ABAI and DXM groups in GATA 3 protein expression levels;and between ABAI and DXM groups in GATA 3 mRNA expression levels;between normal and model groups

and between SAI and ABAI groups in T-bet protein expression levels;between model and SAI groups and between ABAI and DXM groups in T-bet mRNA expression levels(P>0.05).The ratio of GATA 3 mRNA/T-bet mRNA expression was significantly higher in the model group than in the normal group(P<0.01)

while obviously lower in the SAI

ABAI and DXM groups than in the model group(P<0.05

P<0.01).Additionally

the ratios of GATA 3 mRNA/T-bet mRNA in ABAI and DXM groups were comparable(P>0.05).Conclusion Autoblood acupoint injection is comparable to DXM intraperitoneal injection in down-regulating asthma-induced increase of pulmonary GATA 3 protein and mRNA expression as well as ratio of GATA 3 mRNA/T-bet mRNA

and in up-regulating asthma-induced decrease of T-bet mRNA expression in asthma rats

which may contribute to their effects in relieving asthma.