Journal of Jilin University(Medicine Edition) ›› 2026, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (5): 1369-1376.doi: 10.13481/j.1671-587X.20260518

• Research in basic medicine • Previous Articles    

Effects of omalizumab on proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle cells in asthmatic mice by regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Shuang REN,Xiaochao GAO,Yan WANG,Yanmei LIU,Wenxia MENG()   

  1. Department of Allergy,First Hospital,Hebei Medical University,Shijiazhuang 050000,China
  • Received:2025-12-11 Accepted:2026-02-01 Online:2026-09-28 Published:2026-10-15
  • Contact: Wenxia MENG E-mail:496256035@qq.com

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effect of omalizumab on the proliferation and migration of the airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) in the asthmatic mice by regulating wingless-type MMTV integration site family(Wnt)/β-catenin signal pathway. Methods Twelve mice were randomly divided into normal group and model group. The mouse model of asthma was constructed by sensitizing and stimulating the mixture of ovalbumin and aluminum hydroxide. The primary ASMCs were isolated from the bronchial tissue of the mice in normal group and model group. Immunofluorescence staining method was used to detect the positive expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in ASMCs. The ASMCs were divided into control group, asthma group, omalizumab group, iCRT3 (Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway inhibitor) group, and omalizumab+SKL2001 (Wnt/β-catenin pathway activator) group. The ASMCs in control group were isolated from the bronchial tissues of mice in normal group. The ASMCs in other groups were isolated from the bronchial tissues of mice in model group and received corresponding treatments. 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining method and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method were used to detect the percentages of EdU-positive cells and proliferation activities in ASMCs in various groups. Wound healing assay was used to detect the wound healing rates in ASMCs in various groups. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used to detect the levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-33, and IL-13 in the supernatants of ASMCs in various groups. Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), Wnt 3a, and β-catenin proteins in ASMCs in various groups. Results Over 98% of the cells isolated from the bronchial tissues of the mice in normal group and model group exhibited positive α-SMA expression, confirming the successful isolation of ASMCs. Compared with control group, the EdU-positive rate in ASMCs, proliferation activity, wound healing rate, the levels of IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α, IL-33, and IL-13 in the supernatant, and the expression levels of PCNA, MMP-9, Wnt 3a, and β-catenin proteins in ASMCs in asthma group were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with asthma group, the EdU-positive rates in ASMCs, proliferation activities, wound healing rates, the levels of IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α, IL-33, and IL-13 in the supernatants, and the expression levels of PCNA, MMP-9, Wnt 3a, and β-catenin proteins in ASMCs in omalizumab group and iCRT3 group were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with omalizumab group, the above indices in ASMCs were significantly increased in omalizumab+SKL2001 group (P<0.05). Conclusion Omalizumab inhibits the proliferation, migration and inflammatory response of ASMCs in the asthmatic mice, and its mechanism is related to inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway.

Key words: Omalizumab, Asthma, Airway smooth muscle cells, Cell proliferation, Cell migration

CLC Number: 

  • R562.25