Figure 1.

Effects of atorvastatin treatment on tTG, TIMP-1, TGF-β1 and MMP-9 gene expression in the lung tissues of asthmatic mice. Mice were treated with atorvastatin or Dex and challenged with OVA (nebulized 2.5% solution 30 min/day, 3 days/week for 6 weeks). The mRNA levels of tTG, TIMP-1, TGF-β1 and MMP-9 were determined by reverse-transcription quantitative PCR analysis. Values are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation of one experiment consisting of three replicates. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, vs. control group. ^#P<0.05 vs. model group. PCR, polymerase chain reaction; tTG, tissue transglutaminase; MMP-9, matrix metalloproteinase 9; TGF-β, transforming growth factor β; TIMP-1, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases 1; Dex, dexamethasone.