Treatment Of Bronchial Epithelial Cells Research Articles

Low-dose Drosera rotundifolia induces gene expression changes in 16HBE human bronchial epithelial cells

Drosera rotundifolia has been traditionally used for the treatment of respiratory diseases in phytotherapy and homeopathy. The mechanisms of action recognized so far are linked to the known effects of specific components, such as flavonoids, but are not completely understood. In this study, the biological functions of D. rotundifolia were explored in vitro following the treatment of bronchial epithelial cells, which are the potential targets of the pharmacological effects of the herbal medicine. To do so, the whole plant ethanolic extract was 1000-fold diluted in water (D. rotundifolia 3×) and added to a 16HBE human cell line culture for 3 h or 6 h. The effects on gene expression of the treatments and corresponding controls were then investigated by RNA sequencing. The differentially expressed genes were validated through RT-qPCR, and the enriched biological functions involved in the effects of treatment were investigated. D. rotundifolia 3× did not impair cell viability and was shown to be a stimulant of cell functions by regulating the expression of dozens of genes after 3 h, and the effects were amplified after 6 h of treatment. The main differentially expressed genes encoded ligands of epithelial growth factor receptor, proteins involved in xenobiotic detoxification and cytokines, suggesting that D. rotundifolia 3× could stimulate self-repair systems, which are impaired in airway diseases. Furthermore, D. rotundifolia 3× acts on a complex and multifaceted set of genes and may potentially affect different layers of the bronchial mucosa.

Synthetic host defense peptide IDR-1002 reduces inflammation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a frequent cause of lung infections, particularly in chronic infections in cystic fibrosis patients. However, treatment is challenging due to P. aeruginosa evasion of the host immune system and the rise of antibiotic resistant strains. Host defense peptides (HDPs) and synthetic derivatives called innate defense regulators (IDRs) have shown promise in several infection models as an alternative to antibiotic treatment. Here we tested peptide IDR-1002 against P. aeruginosa in vitro and in vivo. Treatment of bronchial epithelial cells and macrophages with IDR-1002 or in combination with live P. aeruginosa or its LPS led to the reduction of agonist-induced cytokines and chemokines and limited cell killing by live P. aeruginosa. In an in vivo model using P. aeruginosa combined with alginate to mimic a chronic model, IDR-1002 did not reduce the bacterial burden in the lungs, but IDR-1002 mice showed a significant decrease in IL-6 in the lungs and in gross pathology of infection, while histology revealed that IDR-1002 treated mice had reduced alveolar macrophage infiltration around the site of infection and reduced inflammation. Overall, these results indicate that IDR-1002 has promise for combating P. aeruginosa lung infections and their resulting inflammation.

Induction of CFTR gene expression by 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3, 25OH vitamin D3, and vitamin D3 in cultured human airway epithelial cells and in mouse airways

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which often leads to protein misfolding and no CFTR surface localization. This then leads to chronic airway infections, inflammation, and tissue damage. Although vitamin D has been explored as a therapy to treat CF due to its antimicrobial-inducing and anti-inflammatory properties, the effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1α,25(OH)2D3) on CFTR directly has not been studied. We treated cultured healthy and diseased bronchial epithelial cells (BEC) with 10nM 1α,25(OH)2D3 for 6 and 24h and found that 1α,25(OH)2D3 increases both mRNA and protein CFTR levels using RT-qPCR, flow cytometry and fluorescence immunohistochemistry. Treatment of CF cells with 10nM 1α,25(OH)2D3 led to an increase in both total and surface CFTR expression, suggesting 1α,25(OH)2D3 could be used to increase properly localized CFTR in airway cells. To determine if BEC could convert the more clinically relevant cholecalciferol to 25OHD3, cultured non-CF and CF BECs were treated with a range of cholecalciferol concentrations, and 25OHD3 levels were quantified by ELISA. We found that 25OHD3 levels increased in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment of BEC with 10μM cholecalciferol led to increases in both CYP24A1 and CFTR mRNA levels, even when added to the apical surface of cells grown in an air-liquid interface, suggesting that topical administration of vitamin D could be used therapeutically. To demonstrate this in vivo, we intranasally delivered 1μM 1α,25(OH)2D3 into mice. After 6h, we observed induction of both Cyp24A1 and CFTR expression in the tracheas of treated mice. The major findings of this study are that vitamin D can be converted to the active form when topically administered to the airway, and this could be used to increase CFTR levels in patients with CF. This could potentially be useful as an adjunctive therapy, together with newly developed CF treatments.

Maresin-1 reduces the pro-inflammatory response of bronchial epithelial cells to organic dust

BackgroundExposure to organic dust causes detrimental airway inflammation. Current preventative and therapeutic measures do not adequately treat resulting disease, necessitating novel therapeutic interventions. Recently identified mediators derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids exhibit anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving actions. We tested the potential of one of these mediators, maresin-1 (MaR1), in reducing organic dust-associated airway inflammation.MethodsAs bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) are pivotal in initiating organic dust-induced inflammation, we investigated the in vitro effects of MaR1 on a human BEC cell line (BEAS-2B). Cells were pretreated for 1 hour with 0–200 nM MaR1, followed by 1–24 hour treatment with 5% hog confinement facility-derived organic dust extract (HDE). Alternatively, a mouse lung slice model was utilized in supportive cytokine studies. Supernatants were harvested and cytokine levels determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Epithelial cell protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms α and ϵ, and PKA activities were assessed via radioactivity assays, and NFκB and MAPK-related signaling mechanisms were investigated using luciferase vector reporters.ResultsMaR1 dose-dependently reduced IL-6 and IL-8 production following HDE treatment of BECs. MaR1 also reduced HDE-stimulated cytokine release including TNF-α in a mouse lung slice model when given before or following HDE treatment. Previous studies have established that HDE sequentially activates epithelial PKCα and PKCϵ at 1 and 6 hours, respectively that regulated TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 release. MaR1 pretreatment abrogated these HDE-induced PKC activities. Furthermore, HDE treatment over a 24-hour period revealed temporal increases in NFκB, AP-1, SP-1, and SRE DNA binding activities, using luciferase reporter assays. MaR1 pretreatment did not alter the activation of NFκB, AP-1, or SP-1, but did reduce the activation of DNA binding at SRE.ConclusionsThese observations indicate a role for MaR1 in attenuating the pro-inflammatory responses of BECs to organic dust extract, through a mechanism that does not appear to rely on reduced NFκB, AP-1, or SP-1-related signaling, but may be mediated partly through SRE-related signaling. These data offer insights for a novel mechanistic action of MaR1 in bronchial epithelial cells, and support future in vivo studies to test MaR1’s utility in reducing the deleterious inflammatory effects of environmental dust exposures.

Pulmonary surfactant phosphatidylglycerol inhibits respiratory syncytial virus–induced inflammation and infection

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of hospitalization for respiratory tract infection in young children. It is also a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in elderly individuals and in persons with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Currently, no reliable vaccine or simple RSV antiviral therapy is available. Recently, we determined that the minor pulmonary surfactant phospholipid, palmitoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidylglycerol (POPG), could markedly attenuate inflammatory responses induced by lipopolysaccharide through direct interactions with the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) interacting proteins CD14 and MD-2. CD14 and TLR4 have been implicated in the host response to RSV. Treatment of bronchial epithelial cells with POPG significantly inhibited interleukin-6 and -8 production, as well as the cytopathic effects induced by RSV. The phospholipid bound RSV with high affinity and inhibited viral attachment to HEp2 cells. POPG blocked viral plaque formation in vitro by 4 log units, and markedly suppressed the expansion of plaques from cells preinfected with the virus. Administration of POPG to mice, concomitant with viral infection, almost completely eliminated the recovery of virus from the lungs at 3 and 5 days after infection, and abrogated IFN-gamma (IFN-gamma) production and the enhanced expression of surfactant protein D (SP-D). These findings demonstrate an important approach to prevention and treatment of RSV infections using exogenous administration of a specific surfactant phospholipid.

Low concentrations of LL-37 alter IL-8 production by keratinocytes and bronchial epithelial cells in response to proinflammatory stimuli

The immunomodulatory cationic host defence peptide LL-37 plays an important role in epithelial innate immunity; at higher concentrations (20-50 microg mL(-1)) associated with inflammation, LL-37 elicits the production of cytokines and chemokines. It was demonstrated here that lower, physiologically relevant LL-37 concentrations (2-3 microg mL(-1)) altered epithelial cell responses to proinflammatory stimuli. In combination with interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and the Toll-like receptor-5 (TLR5) agonist flagellin, these low concentrations of LL-37 synergistically increased IL-8 production by both proliferating and differentiated keratinocytes and by bronchial epithelial cells. In combination with the TLR2/1 agonist PAM3CSK4, LL-37 synergistically induced transcription and the release of both IL-8 and IL-6 from primary bronchial epithelial cells; the IL-8 response was demonstrated to be regulated by epidermal growth factor receptor signalling. Treatment of bronchial epithelial cells with LL-37 and the TLR3 agonist polyI:C resulted in synergistic increases in IL-8 release and cytotoxicity. These data indicate that low concentrations of LL-37 may alter epithelial responses to infecting microorganisms in vivo.

TMEM16A, A Membrane Protein Associated with Calcium-Dependent Chloride Channel Activity

Calcium-dependent chloride channels are required for normal electrolyte and fluid secretion, olfactory perception, and neuronal and smooth muscle excitability. The molecular identity of these membrane proteins is still unclear. Treatment of bronchial epithelial cells with interleukin-4 (IL-4) causes increased calcium-dependent chloride channel activity, presumably by regulating expression of the corresponding genes. We performed a global gene expression analysis to identify membrane proteins that are regulated by IL-4. Transfection of epithelial cells with specific small interfering RNA against each of these proteins shows that TMEM16A, a member of a family of putative plasma membrane proteins with unknown function, is associated with calcium-dependent chloride current, as measured with halide-sensitive fluorescent proteins, short-circuit current, and patch-clamp techniques. Our results indicate that TMEM16A is an intrinsic constituent of the calcium-dependent chloride channel. Identification of a previously unknown family of membrane proteins associated with chloride channel function will improve our understanding of chloride transport physiopathology and allow for the development of pharmacological tools useful for basic research and drug development.

IFN-γ–induced protein 10 is a novel biomarker of rhinovirus-induced asthma exacerbations

BackgroundRhinovirus-induced acute asthma is the most frequent trigger for asthma exacerbations.ObjectiveWe assessed which inflammatory mediators were released from bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) after infection with rhinovirus and then determined whether they were also present in subjects with acute virus-induced asthma, with the aim to identify a biomarker or biomarkers for acute virus-induced asthma.MethodsBECs were obtained from bronchial brushings of steroid-naive asthmatic subjects and healthy nonatopic control subjects. Cells were infected with rhinovirus 16. Inflammatory mediators were measured by means of flow cytometry with a cytometric bead array. Subjects with acute asthma and virus infection were recruited; they were characterized clinically by using lung function tests and had blood taken to measure the inflammatory mediators identified as important by the BEC experiments.ResultsIFN-γ–induced protein 10 (IP-10) and RANTES were released in the greatest quantities, followed by IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α. Dexamethasone treatment of BECs only partially suppressed IP-10 and TNF-α but was more effective at suppressing RANTES, IL-6, and IL-8. In acute clinical asthma serum IP-10 levels were increased to a greater extent in those with acute virus-induced asthma (median of 604 pg/mL compared with 167 pg/mL in those with non–virus-induced acute asthma, P < .01). Increased serum IP-10 levels were predictive of virus-induced asthma (odds ratio, 44.3 [95% CI, 3.9-100.3]). Increased serum IP-10 levels were strongly associated with more severe airflow obstruction (r = −0.8; P < .01).ConclusionsIP-10 release is specific to acute virus-induced asthma.Clinical implicationsMeasurement of serum IP-10 could be used to predict a viral trigger to acute asthma.

Asthmatic Bronchial Epithelial Cells Have a Deficient Innate Immune Response to Infection With Rhinovirus

Purpose of the Study. To determine if bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) from asthma patients have abnormal innate responses to rhinovirus infection. Study Population. BECs from 14 subjects with moderate persistent asthma treated with inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs), 10 subjects with mild intermittent asthma who were never treated with ICSs, and 10 healthy controls. Methods. BECs were cultured from bronchial brushings obtained by bronchoscopy. BECs were studied prerhinovirus-16 infection, postinfection, and post–inactivated rhinovirus-16 exposure. Cytokines and chemokines were measured. Viable cell numbers, numbers of apoptotic cells, and cell lysate caspase activity were used to measure apoptotic activity. Apoptotic activity inhibition using the caspase-3 inhibitor, ZMD-fmk, was used to verify the presence of apoptosis. Rhinovirus-infection induction of interferon-β (IFN-β) was measured. Influence of IFN-β on apoptosis induction was evaluated by prerhinovirus and postrhinovirus infection treatment of BECs with exogenous IFN-β. The effect of IFN-β was also measured on virus titer preinfection and postinfection. Results. Rhinovirus-16 infection induced ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1), IL-6 (interleukin-6), and RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T cells expressed and secreted) expression equally in BECs from asthmatic and healthy subjects. Viral RNA expression, lactate dehydrogenase activity, and virus titers all significantly increased in asthmatic versus healthy subjects’ BECs. The percentage of viable cells was 63% in asthmatic versus 80% in healthy subjects’ BECs, whereas apoptosis increased 1.4-fold in asthmatic and 2.2-fold in control subjects’ BECs (P = .02). Caspase activity increased significantly more in the control versus asthmatic subjects’ BECs postinfection. Induction of apoptosis in the healthy controls was inhibited by treatment of BECs with ZVD-fmk, and in a similar experiment, viral titers increased in the control BECs posttreatment and closely approximated the titers seen in infected asthmatic subjects’ BECs. Induction of IFN-β messenger RNA and IFN-β production were both significantly greater in the control versus the asthmatic subjects’ BECs. The effect of IFN-β on induction of apoptosis was evaluated: although apoptosis increased with posttreatment, there was significantly greater (P = .02) induction of apoptosis with pretreatment. Likewise, viral titers in the supernatant of infected asthmatic subjects’ BECs were inhibited by postinfection treatment with IFN-β but were most inhibited by pretreatment with IFN-β. Responses were similar between ICS-treated and ICS-naive asthmatic subjects. Conclusions. Examination of early innate immune responses revealed profound impairment of virus-induced IFN-β messenger RNA expression and IFN-β production from BECs of subjects with asthma. A novel use for type 1 interferons in the treatment or prevention of virus-induced asthma exacerbations is proposed. Reviewer Comments. How a rhinovirus infection induces an asthma exacerbation remains largely speculative. Differences between the innate immune response to rhinovirus infection of asthmatic and healthy subjects are demonstrated by using this novel approach. Very interesting is the lack of difference seen in ICS-naive and ICS-treated asthmatic subjects, which may explain why controversy remains regarding the role of ICSs in prevention of viral-induced asthma exacerbations. These data suggest that impairment in IFN-β production may be important in the induction of immune responses resulting in an asthma exacerbation. The authors’ proposal that type 1 interferon use may treat or prevent viral-induced asthma exacerbations is intriguing.

Increased expression of p21(waf) cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor in asthmatic bronchial epithelium.

Because the asthmatic bronchial epithelium is characterized by widespread damage, we postulated that this is associated with expression of cell cycle inhibitors that control proliferation. Using bronchial biopsies, the epithelium was the major site of expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p21(waf). Immunostaining usually occurred in the cytoplasm of columnar cells; however, in severe asthma, nuclear staining was also evident in the proliferative, basal cell compartment. p21(waf) expression was significantly higher in asthmatic versus nonasthmatic epithelium and was unaffected by corticosteroid treatment; proliferating cell nuclear antigen was not significantly different in any group. p21(waf), but not p27(kip1), mRNA and protein were induced by treatment of bronchial epithelial cells in vitro with transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta or H2O2, but not by dexamethasone, which induced p57(kip2). TGF-beta and dexamethasone inhibited epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced DNA synthesis, whereas low concentrations of H2O2 synergized with EGF; at higher doses, growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis occurred. TGF-beta caused p21(waf) to become nuclear, suggesting interaction with the replicative machinery; however, in oxidant-stressed cells, p21(waf) was predominantly cytoplasmic, where it has been linked to cell survival. We conclude that p21(waf) overexpression in asthma influences cell proliferation and survival. This may cause abnormal repair responses that contribute to airway inflammation and remodeling.