• Min-Hyeok An, Pureun-Haneul Lee, Seon-Muk Choi, DaYeon Hwang, Jung-Hyun Kim, Meung Chul Park, Shinhee Park, Ae-Rin Baek, and An-Soo Jang.
• Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
• Yonsei Med. J. 2023 Jun 1; 64 (6): 375383375-383.

PurposeJunctional adhesion molecule (JAM)-A is an immunoglobulin-like molecule that colocalizes with tight junctions (TJs) in the endothelium and epithelium. It is also found in blood leukocytes and platelets. The biological significance of JAM-A in asthma, as well as its clinical potential as a therapeutic target, are not well understood. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of JAM-A in a mouse model of asthma, and to determine blood levels of JAM-A in asthmatic patients.Materials And MethodsMice sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) or saline were used to investigate the role of JAM-A in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. In addition, JAM-A levels were measured in the plasma of asthmatic patients and healthy controls. The relationships between JAM-A and clinical variables in patients with asthma were also examined.ResultsPlasma JAM-A levels were higher in asthma patients (n=19) than in healthy controls (n=12). In asthma patients, the JAM-A levels correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1%), FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC), and the blood lymphocyte proportion. JAM-A, phospho-JNK, and phospho-ERK protein expressions in lung tissue were significantly higher in OVA/OVA mice than in control mice. In human bronchial epithelial cells treated with house dust mite extracts for 4 h, 8 h, and 24 h, the JAM-A, phospho-JNK, and phospho-ERK expressions were increased, as shown by Western blotting, while the transepithelial electrical resistance was reduced.ConclusionThese results suggest that JAM-A is involved in the pathogenesis of asthma, and may be a marker for asthma.© Copyright: Yonsei University College of Medicine 2023.

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