The impact of nectin-4 on asthma

RATIONALE: Nectin is the Ca2+-independent immunoglobulin-like molecules consisting of four members that recruitment of the seproteins is mediated by afadin, an actin filament binding protein that connects nectins to the cytoskeleton. We aimed to elucidate the role of nectin-4/afadin on airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation using a murine asthma model and to find relationship between nectin-4 and clinical variables in patient s with asthma.

METHODS: Using mice sensitized and challenged with OVA, as well as mice sensitized and challenged with saline, we investigated whether nectin-4, and Src/Rac/JNK pathway be involved in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma by western blotting and Immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we also checked relationship between the levels of nectin-4 levels in blood from asthmatic patients and clinical variables.

RESULTS: Nectin-4/afadin in lung tissue was significantly increased in OVA/OVA mice compared with control mice. Src/Rac/JNK pathways were involved in OVA/OVA mice. The plasma nectin-4 levels were significantly decreased in non-treated asthmatic patients compared to those of control subjects, and anti-asthmatic treatment were recovered to normal levels. The plasma nectin-4 level was correlated with FEV1 and methacholine PC20.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings thus raise the possibility that nectin 4 is involved in asthma pathogenesis.