Abstract: AIM: To investigate the effects of SB203580, a special inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), on the airway inflammation and Thl/Th2 cytokines, IFN-y/IL-4 in mice with asth-matic. METHODS: Thirty mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: normal control group, asthmatic group and SB203580 group. The concentrations of IFN-7 and IL-4 in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by ELISA, The number of inflammatory cells in BALF and the changes of histropathology were observed. RE-SULTS: In asthmatic group, the number of inflammatory cells and the concentration of IL-4 in BALF were higher and the concentration of in BALF IFN-ywas lower than those in normal control group(P < 0.01). In SB203580 group, the number of inflammatoiy cells and the concen-tration of IL-4 in BALF were lower and the concentration of in BALF IFN-ywas higher than those in asthmatic group (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, the histropathology damage was alleviated in SB2035 80 group. CONCLUSION: SB203580 can decrease the aggregation of airway inflam-matory cells and correct the imbalance of IFN-y/IL-4.

Key words: MAPK, p38 MAPK, branchial, asthma, airway inflammation, cytokine, IFN-7, Interleukin-4