Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory system. Maresin-2 (MaR2) is biosynthesized from
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) by macrophages, display strong anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving activity. To investigate the
therapeutic effect and mechanism of MaR2 on asthmatic mice induced by
ovalbumin (OVA) in conjunction with the adjuvant
aluminum hydroxide. Twenty four female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control, OVA, OVA + MaR2, and OVA + dexamethasone (Dexa) groups. MaR2 or Dexa were given as a treatment for OVA-induced
asthma. Serum, bronchoalveolar alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue were collected for further analysis. The Pathological changes of lung tissue, proportion of inflammatory cells in BALF, levels of inflammatory
cytokines in BALF or serum, oxidative stress indices, and the
protein concentration of ASC, MPO, Ly-6G,
ICAM-1, NLRP3 and Caspase-1 in lung tissues were evaluated. Compared with the OVA group, both OVA + MaR2 and OVA + Dexa group had reduced
inflammation and mucus secretion in lung tissue, number of inflammatory cells in BALF, levels of related inflammatory
cytokines in serum or BALF, and expressions of ASC, MPO, Ly-6G,
ICAM-1, NLRP3 and Caspase-1
proteins in lung tissue. In addition, the oxidative stress was alleviated as indicated by decreased MDA, and elevated SOD and GSH. MaR2 has an obvious protective effect on OVA-induced
bronchial asthma in mice, in a similar manner as Dexa. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the Th2 type immune response, the NLRP3
inflammasome activation and oxidative stress.