Differential Modulation of β2AR Mediated cAMP/PKA/CREB Signaling Cascade in Normal versus Asthmatic Airway Epithelial Cells

Abstract

Nearly 25 million people in the U.S. suffer from asthma. While there is no panacea for asthma, symptomatic relief is achieved by the current therapeutic interventions, including β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) agonists. Chronic usage of β2AR agonists can have serious implications like airway hyper-responsiveness and receptor desensitization, and along with unknown mechanisms, can ultimately culminate into tachyphylaxis to the response. Previously, our laboratory has extensively explored the critical role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in modulating β2AR function. To begin to assess the physiological role of the β2AR-ROS linkage in asthma, here, we assessed Isoproterenol (ISO)-induced β2AR mediated Gαs/cAMP/CREB pathway in small airway epithelial cells from asthma patients (SAEC-A) compared to those from non-diseased control patients (SAEC-N). Given the importance of β2AR mediated cAMP production and its role in airway bronchodilation, as well as tachyphylaxis that occurs upon chronic use of β2AR agonists, our results may shed light on the role of oxidants in altering β2AR responses in asthma. To assess cAMP levels, cells were analyzed using highly sensitive luciferase-based biosensor. Briefly, SAEC were transfected with GloSensorTM -22F cAMP plasmid (8μg) using Lipofectamine3000. Luminescence was measured following treated with the ISO. To assess the effects of downstream cAMP-mediated transcription, cells were stimulated with H2O, Forskolin (FSK) (10 μM) & ISO (100μM) for 20 min and lysed. Lysates were resolved using SDS-PAGE and immunoprobed for phospho-cAMP response element-binding protein (pCREB), total CREB and β-actin. Similarly, SAEC-N/A lysates were assessed for Adenylyl Cyclase (AC-5/6) and Phosphodiesterase (PDE4) by immunoblot. β2AR agonism with ISO significantly increased cAMP production in SAEC from asthma patients compared to non-diseased control. In spite of elevated cAMP production in asthmatic SAEC, both ISO and FSK were able to induce significant increase in CREB phosphorylation, leading to heightened pCREB/CREB response in SAEC-N as compared to SAEC-A. ISO-mediated increased cAMP response in asthmatic SAEC compared to non-diseased control, were linked with physiologically altered expression of key cAMP mediators, specifically, heightened basal expression of AC-5/6 and PDE4, in asthmatic SAEC compared to SAEC-N. ISO mediated increased cAMP production in asthmatic SAEC indicated altered agonist modulated β2AR downstream signaling in diseased versus non-diseased SAEC. Further, heightened basal expression of AC-5/6 in asthmatic SAEC supports the above mentioned consequence. In addition, elevated CREB phosphorylation in non-diseased SAEC suggests alterations of β2AR-mediated PKA/CREB signaling in asthma. Future results will probe the effects of elevated ROS in these signal cascades.