Objective:To investigate the effects of vitamin E on airway remodeling in asthma rats. Methods:Twenty-four clean grade SD male rats were randomly divided into the control group,the asthma group and the vitamin E group,with 8 in each. The asthma group and the vitamin E group were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin to establish asthmatic models. The control group was treated with the same amount of saline. From the 15th day,the vitamin E group was fed with vitamin E,100 mg/(kg·d). The other two groups were fed with equal amount of saline. On day 69,all rats were sacrificed in 24 hours after challenged,then the serum and lung tissue specimen were preserved. The pathological changes of lung tissues were detected by HE staining. The thickness of airway wall and smooth muscle was detected by computer image analysis system. The expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α),matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1(TIMP-1)in the serum was detected by ELISA. MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in lung tissues were observed by immunohistochemistry. Results:Compared with the control group,the thickness of airway wall and smooth muscle in the asthma group significantly increased,while the vitamin E group somehow improved in the above changes when compared with the asthma group. Compared with the control group,the expression of HIF-1α,MMP-9,TIMP-1 in serum and MMP-9,TIMP-1 in lung tissues in the asthma group significantly increased. while HIF-1α,MMP-9,TIMP-1 in serum and MMP-9,TIMP-1 in lung tissues in the vitamin E group obviously decreased when compared with the asthma group(P<0.05). Conclusion:Vitamin E may improve airway remodeling in asthma by inhibiting HIF-1α,MMP-9 and TIMP-1.