摘要Summary: In order to investigate the effect of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) on airway remodeling in asthmatic rats, 18 Wistar rats were divided into three groups: asthmatic group; pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) group, in which rats were injected intraperitoneally with NF-κB specific inhibitor PDTC (100 mg/kg) before ovalbumin (OVA) challenge; control group. The NF-κB activity and the expression of inhibitory protein κBa (I-κBα) in airway were detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), Western blot and immunohistochemistry respectively. The infiltration of inflammatory cells, the number of Goblet cells, the area of collagen and smooth muscle in airway were measured by means of image analysis system. The results showed that with the up-regulation of airway NF-κB activity in asthmatic group, the number of goblet cells (3.08 ±0.86/100μm basement membrane (BM)), the area of collagen (24.71 ± 4. 24 μm2/μm BM) and smooth muscle (13.81 ± 2.11 μm2/μm BM) in airway were significantly increased (P＜0.05) as compared with control group (0.14±0. 05/100μm BM, 14.31 ±3.16 μm2/μm BM and 7.67±2.35 μm2/μm BM respectively) and PDTC group (0. 33±0. 14/100 μm BM, 18. 16±2.85 μm2/μm BM and 8.95±2.16 μm2/μm BM respectively). However, there was no significant difference between PDTC group and control group (P＞0.05). It was concluded that the activity of NF-κB is increased in airway of asthmatic rats. Inhibition of NF-κB activation can attenuate constructional changes in asthma airway, suggesting NF-κB may contribute to asthmatic airway remodeling.