Decoy oligodeoxynucleotide against STAT transcription factors decreases allergic inflammation in a rat asthma model.

ABSTRACTLeukocyte infiltration and activation of the CD40-CD40 ligand costimulatory pathway may promote inflammatory processes such as asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a single intratracheal application of a decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) specific for signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) family members 1 and 3 influences leukocyte influx and pulmonary CD40 expression in a rat model of allergic airway inflammation. In comparison with the corticosteroid budesonide, the authors investigated the efficacy of the STAT decoy ODN in ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma in a Brown Norway rat asthma model. Leukocytes of the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and lung tissue were analyzed and expression of CD40 was assessed by Western blotting. Single administration of the STAT decoy ODN but not of a mutated control ODN or budesonide resulted in a significant decrease of eosinophils and T lymphocytes in the BAL fluid. Cell numbers of CD4++ and CD8++ lymphocytes were significantly ...