Abstract: AIM:To observe the expressions of epithelial cell-derived neutrophil-activating protein-78 in acute asthma of severe cases and the influence of methylprednisolone. METHODS:Children with moderate and severe acute asthmawere divided into urbason pre-interfere group, post-interfere group, and the pediatric surgery indirect hernia children as control group (without asthma case history), the numbers of heterophil granulocyte(PMN) in peripheral blood preparation were detected, and the expressions of EAN-78 protein were measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS:Compared with the control group, the levels of ENA-78 protein in asthma group were higher(P <0. 01). Compared with post-interfere group, the levels of ENA-78 protein in pre-interfere group were significantly higher (P <0. 01). Compare with the control group, the numbers of peripheral blood PMN in pre-interfere and post-interfere group were increased, there were significant differences(P <0. 01), and there were no significant differences about the numbers of PMN between pre-interfere and post-interfere group (P >0. 05). There was a positive correlation between the levels of ENA-78 protein and the numbers of PMN by methylprednisolone (n =32, r =0. 865, P <0. 01). CONCLUSION: The levels of ENA-78 protein and the numbers of PMN in blood are increased in moderate and severe acute asthma children. They may be involved in the inflammation process of asthma pathogenesis. Methylprednisolone can relieve the airway inflammation by inhibiting the expressions of ENA-78 protein.

Key words: asthma, epithelial cell-derived neutrophil-activating protein-78, heterophil granulocyte, methylprednisolone