Abstract: Objective　To evaluate the effect of 6-AN, an inhibitor of G6PD, on the proliferation of mouse airway Club cells. Methods　The C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group and asthma group. The asthma group were induced to develop asthma by intraperitoneal injection and then nebulized aspiration of OVA. Samples of lung tissues were harvested for immunostaining after successful modeling. The fraction of Ki67+CCSP+ cells in total CCSP+ cells of lung tissues were quantified. Mouse airway Club cells were isolated from lungs by fluorescent activated cell sorting. Real-time PCR was conducted to analyze mRNA expression of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase X-linked (G6pdx) in mouse airway Club cells. Organoid culture model was used to culture Club cells with 6-AN (0, 10 μmol/L). Organoid cultures were imaged with inverted microscopy at day 8 after seeding. The number of colonies and colony size were analyzed. Results　Compared to the control mice, the fraction of Ki67+CCSP+ over CCSP+ cells was higher in the asthma group (P＜0.01). The G6pdx mRNA expression was elevated in Club cells isolated from asthma group relative to the control group (P＜0.01). The number of colonies and average colony size were significantly decreased in 10 μmol/L 6-AN treatment groups compared with those of 0 μmol/L group (P＜0.01). Conclusion　The 6-AN, an inhibitor of G6PD can inhibit the proliferation of mouse airway      Club cells.

Key words: asthma, pentose phosphate pathway, 6-aminonicotinamide, cell proliferation, Club cells