David Préfontaine

Increased Expression of IL-33 in Severe Asthma: Evidence of Expression by Airway Smooth Muscle Cells

IL-33, a new member of the IL-1 cytokine family, promotes Th2 inflammation, but evidence on the implications of this cytokine in asthma is lacking. IL-33 would be mainly expressed by structural cells, but whether proinflammatory cytokines modulate its expression in airway smooth muscle cells (ASMC) is unknown. Endobronchial biopsies were obtained from adults with mild (n = 8), moderate (n = 8), severe (n = 9), asthma and from control subjects (n = 5). Immunocytochemistry, laser-capture microdissection, reverse transcriptase, and real-time quantitative PCR were used for determining IL-33 expression in the lung tissues. ASMC isolated from resected lung specimens were cultured with proinflammatory cytokines and with dexamethasone. IL-33 expression by ASMC was determined by PCR, ELISA, and Western blotting. Higher levels of IL-33 transcripts are detected in biopsies from asthmatic compared with control subjects, and especially in subjects with severe asthma. ASMC show IL-33 expression at both protein and mRNA levels. IL-33 and TNF-α transcript levels correlate in the lung tissues, and TNF-α up-regulates IL-33 expression by cultured ASMC in a time- and dose-dependent manner. IFN-γ also increases IL-33 expression and shows synergistic effect with TNF-α. Dexamethasone fails to abolish TNF-α-induced IL-33 up-regulation. IL-33 expression increases in bronchial biopsies from subjects with asthma compared with controls, as well as subjects with asthma severity. ASMC are a source of the IL-33 cytokine. Our data propose IL-33 as a novel inflammatory marker of severe and refractory asthma.

Cigarette smoke increases TLR4 and TLR9 expression and induces cytokine production from CD8+T cells in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BackgroundCigarette smoke is a major risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an inflammatory lung disorder. COPD is characterized by an increase in CD8+ T cells within the central and peripheral airways. We hypothesized that the CD8+ T cells in COPD patients have increased Toll-like receptor (TLR) expression compared to control subjects due to the exposure of cigarette smoke in the airways.MethodsEndobronchial biopsies and peripheral blood were obtained from COPD patients and control subjects. TLR4 and TLR9 expression was assessed by immunostaining of lung tissue and flow cytometry of the peripheral blood. CD8+ T cells isolated from peripheral blood were treated with or without cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) as well as TLR4 and TLR9 inhibitors. PCR and western blotting were used to determine TLR4 and TLR9 expression, while cytokine secretion from these cells was detected using electrochemiluminescence technology.ResultsNo difference was observed in the overall expression of TLR4 and TLR9 in the lung tissue and peripheral blood of COPD patients compared to control subjects. However, COPD patients had increased TLR4 and TLR9 expression on lung CD8+ T cells. Exposure of CD8+ T cells to CSC resulted in an increase of TLR4 and TLR9 protein expression. CSC exposure also caused the activation of CD8+ T cells, resulting in the production of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, TNFα and IFNγ. Furthermore, inhibition of TLR4 or TLR9 significantly attenuated the production of TNFα and IL-10.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate increased expression of TLR4 and TLR9 on lung CD8+ T cells in COPD. CD8+ T cells exposed to CSC increased TLR4 and TLR9 levels and increased cytokine production. These results provide a new perspective on the role of CD8+ T cells in COPD.

Interleukin-33 in asthma: insights into pro-inflammatory roles of airway structural cells

Background Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a novel cytokine that triggers inflammatory immune responses, but evidence of its role in human asthma, a common allergic airway disease, is lacking. There is also a paucity of information regarding which cells express IL-33, and what conditions promote its expression. We sought to investigate whether IL-33 is expressed in the lung tissue from patients with asthma.

Atopy affects LPS responsiveness and TLR-4 expression in children peripheral mononuclear cells

Background Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure in early life is associated with a lower incidence of atopy. We sought to determine whether atopy regulates TLR-4 expression and LPS-induced signal transduction on peripheral immune cells e.g. CD4 T ‘helper’ T cells, monocytes and B cells of a large pediatric cohort.