Abstract: AIM: To investigate the effects of bambuterol (the agonist of beta2-adrenergic receptor) on expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) of lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of asthmatic guinea pigs.METHODS: Experimental asthma model of guinea pigs was induced by ovalbumin in vivo, lymphocytes in BALF were separated, the expression of NF-κB of lymphocytes was observed by immunohistochemical staining, and inhibitory kappa B (IκB) in lymphocytes and interleukin(IL)-10 in BALF were detected by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA).RESULTS: Compared with model group, bambuterol could increase IκB in lymphocytes and IL-10 in BALF and decrease the percentage of nuclear NF-κB⁺ cells significantly (P <0.05).These effects could be abolished completely by pretreatment with propranolol.While compared with normal control group, IκB and IL-10 of therapeutic group were lower and the percentage of nuclear NF-κB⁺ cells was also higher.Furthermore, there was a significantly negative correlation between the percentage of nuclear NF-κB⁺ cells and the concentration of IL-10 (r =-0.570, P <0.01).CONCLUSION: Increasing the levels of IκB and IL-10 and inhibiting expression of NF-κB subsequently may be one of important mechanisms of bambuterol on airway inf lammation of asthma.

Key words: bambuterol, asthma, nuclear factor-κB, lymphocyte