MUC5AC Production In Cells Research Articles

Regulation of MUC5AC mucin production by the cell attachment dependent pathway involving integrin <i>β</i>1 in NCI-H292 human lung epithelial cells

Mucus hypersecretion in airways is a common pathological change observed in chronic inflammatory diseases and asthma. We investigated the new role of cell attachment to the extracellular matrix (ECM) on the production of the airway mucus protein, MUC5AC mucin, in human airway epithelial cells, NCI-H292. MUC5AC levels of cells cultured on low adhesion plates were 10-fold higher than those of cells cultured on adhesion plates. Cells cultured on bovine serum albumin (BSA) coated plates, which produce low adhesion conditions, also induced the up-regulation of MUC5AC. Mucin staining by PAS and MUC5AC immunodetection confirmed that mucin proteins were overproduced under low adhesion conditions. The major adhesion molecule between cells and the ECM was integrins. A time-course experiment showed that the expression patterns of integrin β1 and MUC5AC protein were inversely proportional. The inhibition of integrin β1 induced an increase in MUC5AC production in cells cultured under adhesion conditions, but not under low adhesion conditions. These results suggested that cell attachment regulates MUC5AC production, which is up-regulated by low adhesion to the ECM, and MUC5AC production is inversely proportional to the function of integrin β1.

MUC5AC production is downregulated in NCI-H292 lung cancer cells cultured on type-IV collagen

Mucus overproduction is an important feature of bronchial asthma. MUC5AC mucin is a major component of mucus and is overproduced in patients with asthma. Although regulation of MUC5AC production has been well investigated, its regulation through the signals from extracellular matrix (ECM) is less clear. In this study, we investigated whether the signals from ECM regulate MUC5AC production in the human lung epithelial cell line NCI-H292. We found that MUC5AC production is downregulated in NCI-H292 cells cultured on type-IV collagen, a major component of ECM, but shows no obvious changes when cultured on type-I collagen or fibronectin. In contrast, MUC5AC production was upregulated on laminin and on reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel), a complex of ECM components. Antibody-mediated inhibition of integrin beta1-subunit, a major receptor involved in the adherence of cells to type-IV collagen, upregulated the MUC5AC production in NCI-H292 cells, and also in the cells cultured on type-IV collagen. Although the major signaling pathway from integrins is via Src kinase activation, treatment of cells with PP2, a Src kinase inhibitor, did not recover the downregulation of MUC5AC on type-IV collagen. In contrast, on Matrigel, the inhibition of integrin beta1-subunit did not abolish the upregulation of MUC5AC production, but PP2 reduced the upregulation. These results suggest that ECM and an integrin/Src pathway play an important role in the regulation of MUC5AC production in the cell line NCI-H292. The production of MUC5AC is downregulated on type-IV collagen through a Src-independent pathway. In contrast, MUC5AC is upregulated on Matrigel through a Src-dependent pathway in NCI-H292 cells.

Histamine Induces MUC5AC Expression via a hCLCA1 Pathway

Background: Histamine is an important inflammatory mediator and associated with early phase allergic response. However, the involvement of histamine in mucin gene expression or production has not been elucidated. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate whether histamine induces MUC5AC production in NCI-H292 cells, and to evaluate which pathway is involved in this mucin production. Methods: MUC5AC production in NCI-H292 cells was analyzed by RT-PCR, immunoassay and immunocytochemical analysis. The effect of histamine on MUC5AC production in these cells at different time courses and concentrations was assessed, and the relationship between hCLCA1 expression and histamine concentration was also evaluated. In addition, cells were pretreated with antihistamine or an hCLCA1 blocker (niflumic acid, NFA) to evaluate the mechanism underlying histamine-induced MUC5AC production. Results: Histamine upregulated MUC5AC gene expression and mucin protein production in a dose-dependent and time-related fashion. Histamine also dose-dependently increased hCLCA1 mRNA expression. Moreover, pretreatment of cells with chlorpheniramine or NFA reduced histamine-induced MUC5AC mRNA expression and protein production in these cells. The histamine-treated cells showed increased cytoplasmic staining for MUC5AC compared to cells treated with media alone, and cells pretreated with chlorpheniramine or NFA before histamine treatment. Conclusion: Our results suggest that histamine-induced MUC5AC production occurs via the upregulation of hCLCA1. It is assumed that antihistamines or hCLCA1 channel blockers can partially suppress histamine-induced MUC5AC production in allergic diseases, e.g. allergic rhinitis.