To determine the impact of
IL-23 knockdown by RNA interference on the development and severity of
ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic
inflammation, and the potential mechanisms in mice, the IL-23-specific RNAi-expressing pSRZsi-IL-23p19 plasmid was constructed and inhaled into OVA-sensitized mice before each challenge, as compared with that of control mice treated with
alum or
budesonide. Inhalation of the pSRZsi-IL-23p19, significantly reduced the levels of OVA-challenge induced
IL-23 in the lung tissues by nearly 75%, determined by RT-PCR. In addition, knockdown of
IL-23 expression dramatically reduced the numbers of eosinophils and neutrophils in BALF and mitigated
inflammation in the lungs of asthmatic mice. Furthermore, knockdown of
IL-23 expression significantly decreased the levels of serum
IgE,
IL-23,
IL-17, and
IL-4, but not IFNgamma, and its anti-inflammatory effects were similar to or better than that of treatment with
budesonide in asthmatic mice. Our data support the notion that
IL-23 and associated Th17 responses contribute to the pathogenic process of
bronchial asthma. Knockdown of
IL-23 by RNAi effectively inhibits asthmatic
inflammation, which is associated with mitigating the production of
IL-17 and
IL-4 in asthmatic mice.