toluene diisocyanateinduced murine asthma model

Cell7cell junctions are critical for the maintenance of cellular as well as tissue polarity and integrity. Yet the role of phosphatidylinositol 37kinase (PI3K) in dysregulation of airway epithelial adherens junctions in toluene diisocyanate (TDI)7induced asthma has not been addressed. Male BALB/c mice were first dermally sensitized and then challenged with TDI by means of compressed air nebulization. The mice were treated intratracheally with PI3K inhibitor LY294002. Levels of phospho7Akt in airway epithelium and whole lung tissues were markedly increased in TDI group compared with control mice, which decreased after administration of LY294002. The dilated intercellular spaces of airway epithelium induced by