Joubert P, Lajoie-Kadoch S, Wellemans V, Létuvé S, Tulic MK, Halayko AJ, Hamid Q. Expression and regulation of CCL15 by human airway smooth muscle cells.
Clin Exp Allergy 2011;
42:85-94. [PMID:
22092970 DOI:
10.1111/j.1365-2222.2011.03894.x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2011] [Revised: 09/15/2011] [Accepted: 09/16/2011] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Structural cells are an important reservoir of chemokines that coordinate the influx of various immune cells to the lungs of asthmatics. Airway smooth muscle cells (ASMC) are an important source of these chemokines. CCL15 is a recently described chemo-attractant for neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes and lymphocytes.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the production and the regulation of CCL15 by ASMC and to investigate its production in asthmatic airways.
METHODS
Human ASMC were obtained from main bronchial airway segments of patients with mild, moderate and severe asthma. To induce chemokine production, cells were incubated with IL-4, IL-13, TNF-α or IFN-γ in presence or absence of dexamethasone, mithramycin A (SP-1 inhibitor) or the IKK-2 inhibitor, AS602868. CCL15 mRNA expression was evaluated by real-time PCR. Immunoreactive CCL15 was detected by immuno-fluorescence and CCL15 protein concentration in the supernatant was measured using ELISA.
RESULTS
CCL15 is constitutively expressed in human ASMC and is strongly up-regulated by TNF-α. This up-regulation is inhibited by dexamethasone, mithramycin A and AS602868. TNF-α-induced CCL15 levels can be synergistically enhanced by the presence of IFN-γ, at both the transcriptional and translation level. This synergism is NF-κB-dependent. Asthmatic biopsies demonstrated higher expression of CCL15 compared with non-asthmatic controls.
CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Our results show that ASMC are a potent source of CCL15 in the airways and may directly participate in the recruitment of inflammatory cells to asthmatic airways. Targeting the production of CCL15 by ASMC might reduce the inflammatory response within the airways of asthmatic patients.
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