Secretory proteins and glycoconjugates synthesized by human tracheal gland cells in culture

Analysis of the proteome of human airway epithelial secretions

BACKGROUND

Airway surface liquid, often referred to as mucus, is a thin layer of fluid covering the luminal surface that plays an important defensive role against foreign particles and chemicals entering the lungs. Airway mucus contains various macromolecules, the most abundant being mucin glycoproteins, which contribute to its defensive function. Airway epithelial cells cultured in vitro secrete mucins and nonmucin proteins from their apical surface that mimics mucus production in vivo. The current study was undertaken to identify the polypeptide constituents of human airway epithelial cell secretions to gain a better understanding of the protein composition of respiratory mucus.

RESULTS

Fifty-five proteins were identified in the high molecular weight fraction of apical secretions collected from in vitro cultures of well-differentiated primary human airway epithelial cells and isolated under physiological conditions. Among these were MUC1, MUC4, MUC5B, and MUC16 mucins. By proteomic analysis, the nonmucin proteins could be classified as inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and/or anti-microbial.

CONCLUSIONS

Because the majority of the nonmucin proteins possess molecular weights less than that selected for analysis, it is theoretically possible that they may associate with the high molecular weight and negatively charged mucins to form a highly ordered structural organization that is likely to be important for maintaining the proper defensive function of airway mucus.

Lactoperoxidase and human airway host defense

The lactoperoxidase (LPO) antibiotic system is a well-characterized component of mammary and salivary gland secretions. Because LPO has been shown to function in ovine airways, human airway tissue and secretions were examined for the presence of LPO and its substrate, the anion thiocyanate (SCN-). In addition, human airway secretions were tested for LPO-mediated antibacterial activity, and LPO's activity was assessed against some human airway pathogens. The data showed that normal human airway secretions contained LPO enzyme activity (0.65 +/- 0.09 microg/mg secreted protein; n = 17), and Western blots of secretions demonstrated bands of the expected sizes for LPO. LPO mRNA was detected in trachea by sequencing PCR-amplified cDNA. SCN-, LPO's substrate, was present in undiluted airway secretions at concentrations sufficient for LPO catalysis (0.46 +/- 0.19 mM; n = 8), and diluted secretions contained antibacterial activity with LPO-like properties. Immunocytochemistry localized LPO to submucosal glands in human bronchi. Finally, as expected based on the known antibacterial spectrum of the LPO system, airway secretions showed LPO-dependent activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In addition, the airway LPO system was shown to be effective against Burkholderia cepacia and Haemophilus influenzae. Thus, a functional LPO system exists in human airways and may contribute to airway host defense against infection.

Isolation and molecular characterization of serous and mucous gland cells of the porcine airways

Secretory cells of the glands of the airways play important roles in the pathogenesis of several diseases. Little, however, is known about the molecular biology of these cells. Here we describe a procedure for the separation of serous and mucous gland cells and the isolation of genes specifically expressed in these cells. Mucosal tissue was prepared from porcine large airways. Following enzymatic digestion, the cell types were separated by discontinuous Percoll density gradient centrifugation. Cell purity was analyzed by electron microscopy. The cell fractions contained between 75 and 85% mucous and serous cells, respectively. To isolate cell type-specific genes, poly(A)+ RNA was isolated from serous and mucous cell fractions, reverse transcribed and used for differential display polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Out of about a total of 1,700 PCR products identified in horizontal polyacrylamide gels, most bands were found to be common to both cell fractions, indicating that the transcript patterns in cells from both fractions are very similar. Eighteen PCR products, however, were consistently distinct in the two cell fractions, with eight products present only in RNA from the mucous cell fraction and 10 PCR products present only in RNA from the serous cell fraction. Dot-blot analysis of mRNA of serous and mucous cells proved the cell type-specific expression of nine PCR products. Northern blot analysis detected single transcripts for each PCR product. The development of a simple cell separation procedure for secretory cells of the airways, combined with the ability to isolate numerous cell type-specific marker genes, should facilitate the molecular understanding of secretory cells of the airways.

Mucins secreted by a transformed cell line derived from human tracheal gland cells

High-molecular-mass glycoconjugates are secreted by the continuous cell line MM-39, which has been obtained from cultured human tracheal gland cells transformed by simian virus 40. They were purified on Sepharose(R) CL-4B and then by two steps of density-gradient centrifugation. High-molecular-mass glycoproteins resistant to digestion by hyaluronidase, chondroitin ABC lyase and heparitinase were obtained, in addition to hyaluronic acid and proteoglycans. They were susceptible to beta-elimination. They contained polylactosaminoglycan chains as well as carbohydrate chains with a terminal sialic acid in the NeuAc alpha2-3 sequence. Most of them have a buoyant density of 1.45 g/ml in CsCl-density-gradient centrifugation, except for MUC1. The MM-39 cells were also characterized by a high expression of MUC1 and MUC4 genes, but they did not express MUC2, MUC3, MUC5B and MUC5AC. Therefore the MM-39 cells synthesized mucin-like glycoproteins as well as lysozyme and mucous proteinase inhibitor [Merten, Kammouni, Renaud, Birg, Mattéi and Figarella (1996) Am. J. Respir. Cell. Mol. Biol. 15, 520-528]; they should be considered as having a mixed, both serous and mucous, phenotype.

Glandular-like morphogenesis and secretory activity of human tracheal gland cells in a three-dimensional collagen gel matrix

The extracellular matrix has been demonstrated to affect the differentiation of epithelial cells. We present evidence that in a three-dimensional (3-D) type I collagen gel matrix, isolated human adult tracheal gland (HTG) cells are capable of reconstructing new functional gland-like tubules in vitro. During the first two weeks in culture, HTG cells developed globular epithelial cell aggregates in which lumina is absent. By the third week in culture, the tubulogenesis and the formation of branching structures became evident with a polarized morphology, which in many aspects resembles the in vivo morphology. A central lumen was lined by polarized secretory epithelial cells exhibiting well-developed microvilli and apical secretory granules. Furthermore, we showed that the capacity of in vitro tracheal gland differentiation was associated with the basal deposition of laminin and type IV collagen around the gland-like tubules. A cell-associated 72 kDa type IV collagenase was expressed in developing tubule cells, as shown by immunocytochemistry. The secretion of the antileucoprotease (ALP), a protein marker of tracheal gland serous cells, was bidirectional in gland-like tubules, since up to 65% of released ALP was in the basolateral direction. Taken together, these observations indicate that isolated HTG cells in a 3-D collagen matrix form functional tracheal gland-like tubules and suggest that similar new tracheobronchial gland formations may occur during the human normal gland development and remodeling.

Characterization of a unique mucin-like glycoprotein secreted by a human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line (Ishikawa)

A human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line (Ishikawa) has been shown to incorporate [3H]glucosamine and to secrete a radiolabeled high molecular weight compound which is excluded from a Sepharose CL-2B column. The excluded material was resistant to hyaluronidase, chondroitinase ABC, and heparinase. These findings rule out the possibility of this material being a proteoglycan. The susceptibility of this material to digestion with pronase, neuraminidase, and alkaline borohydride treatment strongly suggests that the excluded material is an O-glycosidic glycoprotein. The glycoprotein secreted by Ishikawa cells (ICGP) did not react immunologically with antibodies against either lactoferrin or fibronectin, but did react with an antibody made against tracheal mucin. Conversely, immunoblot analysis revealed that an antibody made against ICGP did not recognize hyaluronic acid, chondroitin, heparin, nasal turbinate mucin, bovine submaxillary gland mucin, lactoferrin, or fibronectin, but did recognize tracheal mucin. Analysis of ICGP amino acid and carbohydrate composition showed that it is rich in serine, threonine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and N-acetylneuraminic acid. In this respect, ICGP differs from other mucins, even though it is immunologically similar to respiratory mucin; hence we may consider ICGP to be a mucin-like glycoprotein. Secretion of ICGP can be modulated by Ca(2+)-ionophore and other mucus secretagogues, such as platelet activating factor, carbachol, and monocyte/macrophage mucus secretagogue, all mediators of lung inflammation. Ishikawa cells and anti-ICGP antibody may be used in studies on in vitro regulation of mucin-like glycoprotein synthesis and secretion in the respiratory tract as well as in the endometrium.

Epinephrine promotes growth and differentiation of human tracheal gland cells in culture

Submucosal gland cells isolated from human tracheas by enzymatic digestion and cultured in the absence or presence of epinephrine (E) were used to investigate the possible action of this catecholamine on the physiology of the gland secretory cells issued from the human trachea. A 3 x 10(-6) M concentration of E shortens the doubling time of growth and increases the cells' confluency rate. On the other hand, E appears to induce cell polarity in terms of differential secretion apically versus basolaterally. Furthermore, when human tracheal gland cells are cultured in the presence of E, a maximal cell stimulability by different agonists occurs from 8 days after confluency and then remains identical for 10 days, allowing us to compare the action of different adrenergic and cholinergic agonists on the proteinase bronchial inhibitor and the radiolabeled glycoconjugate secretion. As previously described, secretions of bronchial inhibitor and high molecular weight glycoconjugates were stimulated both by alpha- and beta-adrenergic and by cholinergic agonists but at a much higher rate when cells were cultured in the presence of E. These results indicate that E improves cultured human tracheal glandular cell growth and differentiation in that it increases their polarity and their ability to respond to adrenergic and cholinergic agonists.

Characterization of cAMP dependent CFTR-chloride channels in human tracheal gland cells

Human tracheal gland cells are believed to be a major site at the origin of cystic fibrosis. Since this disease is due to mutations in a protein called CFTR, we looked for the activity of CFTR in human tracheal gland cells in culture. We have identified CFTR-like chloride-selective channels as having a linear current voltage relationship and unitary conductance of 7 pS in these cells. In cell-attached patches, theophylline (1 mM), IBMX (1 mM), or a cocktail of dibutyryl cAMP (1 mM) and IBMX (0.1 mM) promoted the opening of channels. The unitary current had a reversal potential close to the cell resting potential. Replacement of choline by K+ or Na+ in the pipette solution was without effect on the current-voltage relationship, the reversal potential or the unitary conductance, which is consistent with the chloride selectivity of the channel. Channels were always found clustered and their opening probability was not noticeably dependent on membrane potential. This work therefore represents the first observation of a CFTR-like channel activity in submucosal gland cells.