Furquan Shaheen

Induction of Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition in Primary Airway Epithelial Cells from Patients with Asthma by Transforming Growth Factor-β1

RATIONALE Airway remodeling in asthma is associated with the accumulation of fibroblasts, the primary cell responsible for synthesis and secretion of extracellular matrix proteins. The process by which the number of fibroblasts increases in asthma is poorly understood, but epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) may play a significant role. OBJECTIVES To evaluate whether EMT occurs in primary airway epithelial cells (AECs), the mechanisms involved, and if this process is altered in asthmatic AECs. METHODS AECs were obtained from subjects with asthma (n = 8) and normal subjects without asthma (n = 10). Monolayer and air-liquid interface-AEC (ALI-AEC) cultures were treated with transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 (10 ng/ml) for 72 hours and assayed for mesenchymal and epithelial markers using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, confocal microscopy, and immunoblot. The involvement of BMP-7, Smad3, and MAPK-mediated signaling were also evaluated. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS TGF-beta1-induced EMT in AEC monolayers derived from subjects with asthma and normal donors. EMT was characterized by changes in cell morphology, increased expression of mesenchymal markers EDA-fibronectin, vimentin, alpha-smooth muscle actin, and collagen-1, and loss of epithelial markers E-cadherin and zonular occludin-1. Inhibition of TGF-beta1-induced signaling with Smad3-inhibiting siRNA or TGF-beta1-neutralizing antibodies prevented and reversed EMT, respectively, whereas BMP-7 had no effect. In ALI-AEC cultures derived from normal subjects, EMT was confined to basally situated cells, whereas in asthmatic ALI-AEC cultures EMT was widespread throughout the epithelium. CONCLUSIONS TGF-beta1 induces EMT in a Smad3-dependent manner in primary AECs. However, in asthmatic-derived ALI-AEC cultures, the number of cells undergoing EMT is greater. These findings support the hypothesis that epithelial repair in asthmatic airways is dysregulated.

Intrinsic Phenotypic Differences of Asthmatic Epithelium and Its Inflammatory Responses to Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Air Pollution

A substantial proportion of healthcare cost associated with asthma is attributable to exacerbations of the disease. Within the airway, the epithelium forms the mucosal immune barrier, the first structural cell defense against common environmental insults such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and particulate matter. We sought to characterize the phenotype of differentiated asthmatic-derived airway epithelial cultures and their intrinsic inflammatory responses to environmental challenges. Air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures were generated from asthmatic (n = 6) and nonasthmatic (n = 6) airway epithelial cells. Airway tissue and ALI cultures were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for cytokeratin-5, E-cadherin, Ki67, Muc5AC, NF-κB, the activation of p38, and apoptosis. ALI cultures were exposed to RSV (4 × 10(6) plaque forming unit/ml), particulate matter collected by Environmental Health Canada (EHC-93, 100 μg/ml), or mechanically wounded for 24, 48, and 96 hours and basolateral supernatants analyzed for inflammatory cytokines, using Luminex and ELISA. The airway epithelium in airway sections of patients with asthma as well as in vitro ALI cultures demonstrated a less differentiated epithelium, characterized by elevated numbers of basal cells marked by the expression of cytokeratin-5, increased phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and less adherens junction protein E-cadherin. Transepithelial resistance was not different between asthmatic and nonasthmatic cultures. In response to infection with RSV, exposure to EHC-93, or mechanical wounding, asthmatic ALI cultures released greater concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, compared with nonasthmatic cultures (P < 0.05). This parallel ex vivo and in vitro study of the asthmatic epithelium demonstrates an intrinsically altered phenotype and aberrant inflammatory response to common environmental challenges, compared with nonasthmatic epithelium.

Characterization of Side Population Cells from Human Airway Epithelium

The airway epithelium is the first line of contact with the inhaled external environment and is continuously exposed to and injured by pollutants, allergens, and viruses. However, little is known about epithelial repair and in particular the identity and role of tissue resident stem/progenitor cells that may contribute to epithelial regeneration. The aims of the present study were to identify, isolate, and characterize side population (SP) cells in human tracheobronchial epithelium. Epithelial cells were obtained from seven nontransplantable healthy lungs and four asthmatic lungs by pronase digestion. SP cells were identified by verapamil‐sensitive efflux of the DNA‐binding dye Hoechst 33342. Using flow cytometry, CD45− SP, CD45+ SP, and non‐SP cells were isolated and sorted. CD45− SP cells made up 0.12% ± 0.01% of the total epithelial cell population in normal airway but 4.1% ± 0.06% of the epithelium in asthmatic airways. All CD45− SP cells showed positive staining for epithelial‐specific markers cytokeratin‐5, E‐cadherin, ZO‐1, and p63. CD45− SP cells exhibited stable telomere length and increased colony‐forming and proliferative potential, undergoing population expansion for at least 16 consecutive passages. In contrast with non‐SP cells, fewer than 100 CD45− SP cells were able to generate a multilayered and differentiated epithelium in air‐liquid interface culture. SP cells are present in human tracheobronchial epithelium, exhibit both short‐ and long‐term proliferative potential, and are capable of generation of differentiated epithelium in vitro. The number of SP cells is significantly greater in asthmatic airways, providing evidence of dysregulated resident SP cells in the asthmatic epithelium.

The airway epithelium nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat protein 3 inflammasome is activated by urban particulate matter

BACKGROUND The airway epithelium is the first line of defense against inhaled insults and therefore must be capable of coordinating appropriate inflammatory and immune responses. OBJECTIVE We sought to test the hypothesis that the nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, an intracellular danger-sensing complex, plays a critical role in airway epithelium-mediated immune responses to urban particulate matter (PM) exposure. METHODS In this study we (1) identified NLRP3 and caspase-1 expression in human airway epithelium bronchus and primary cells, (2) characterized NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated IL-1β production from human airway epithelium in response to PM, and (3) performed in vivo PM exposure experiments with wild-type and Nlrp3(-/-) mice. RESULTS Our results demonstrate that human airway epithelium contains a functional NLRP3 inflammasome that responds to PM exposure with caspase-1 cleavage and production of IL-1β. Exposure of Nlrp3(-/-) and wild-type mice to PM in vivo demonstrates NLRP3-dependent production of IL-1β in the lung, airway neutrophilia, and increases in CD11c(+hi)/MHC class II(+hi) cell numbers in intrathoracic lymph nodes. CONCLUSION Our study is the first to characterize airway epithelial NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated immune responses to PM exposure, which might have implications in patients with asthma and other lung diseases.

Transforming Growth Factor β1 Induces αvβ3 Integrin Expression in Human Lung Fibroblasts via a β3 Integrin-, c-Src-, and p38 MAPK-dependent Pathway

In response to transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ) stimulation, fibroblasts modify their integrin repertoire and adhesive capabilities to certain extracellular matrix proteins. Although TGFβ has been shown to increase the expression of specific αv integrins, the mechanisms underlying this are unknown. In this study we demonstrate that TGFβ1 increased both β3 integrin subunit mRNA and protein levels as well as surface expression of αvβ3 in human lung fibroblasts. TGFβ1-induced αvβ3 expression was strongly adhesion-dependent and associated with increased focal adhesion kinase and c-Src kinase phosphorylation. Inhibition of β3 integrin activation by the Arg-Gly-Asp tripeptide motif-specific disintegrin echistatin or αvβ3 blocking antibody prevented the increase in β3 but not β5 integrin expression. In addition, echistatin inhibited TGFβ1-induced p38 MAPK but not Smad3 activation. Furthermore, inhibition of the Src family kinases, but not focal adhesion kinase, completely abrogated TGFβ1-induced expression of αvβ3 and p38 MAPK phosphorylation but not β5 integrin expression and Smad3 activation. The TGFβ1-induced αvβ3 expression was blocked by pharmacologic and genetic inhibition of p38 MAPK- but not Smad2/3-, Sp1-, ERK-, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and NF-κB-dependent pathways. Our results demonstrate that TGFβ1 induces αvβ3 integrin expression via a β3 integrin-, c-Src-, and p38 MAPK-dependent pathway. These data identify a novel mechanism for TGFβ1 signaling in human lung fibroblasts by which they may contribute to normal and pathological wound healing.

Deleterious Role of TLR3 during Hyperoxia-induced Acute Lung Injury

RATIONALE Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) manifests clinically as a consequence of septic and/or traumatic injury in the lung. Oxygen therapy remains a major therapeutic intervention in ARDS, but this can contribute further to lung damage. Patients with ARDS are highly susceptible to viral infection and it may be due to altered Toll-like receptor (TLR) expression. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the role of TLR3 in ARDS. METHODS TLR3 expression and signaling was determined in airway epithelial cells after in vitro hyperoxia challenge. Using a murine model of hyperoxia-induced lung injury, the role of TLR3 was determined using either TLR3-gene deficient mice or a specific neutralizing antibody directed to TLR3. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Increased TLR3 expression was observed in airway epithelial cells from patients with ARDS. Further, hyperoxic conditions alone were a major stimulus for increased TLR3 expression and activation in cultured human epithelial cells. Interestingly, TLR3(-/-) mice exhibited less acute lung injury, activation of apoptotic cascades, and extracellular matrix deposition after 5 days of 80% oxygen compared with wild-type (TLR3(+/+)) mice under the same conditions. Administration of a monoclonal anti-TLR3 antibody to TLR3(+/+) mice exposed to hyperoxic conditions likewise protected these mice from lung injury and inflammation. CONCLUSIONS The potential for redundancy in function as well as cross-talk between distinct TLRs may indeed contribute to whether the inflammatory cascade can be effectively disrupted once signaling has been initiated. Together, these data show that TLR3 has a major role in the development of ARDS-like pathology in the absence of a viral pathogen.

TGFβ1 induces αvβ3 integrin expression in human lung fibroblasts via a β3 integrin, c-Src and p38MAPK dependent pathway

In response to transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ) stimulation, fibroblasts modify their integrin repertoire and adhesive capabilities to certain extracellular matrix proteins. Although TGFβ has been shown to increase the expression of specific αv integrins, the mechanisms underlying this are unknown. In this study we demonstrate that TGFβ1 increased both β3 integrin subunit mRNA and protein levels as well as surface expression of αvβ3 in human lung fibroblasts. TGFβ1-induced αvβ3 expression was strongly adhesion-dependent and associated with increased focal adhesion kinase and c-Src kinase phosphorylation. Inhibition of β3 integrin activation by the Arg-Gly-Asp tripeptide motif-specific disintegrin echistatin or αvβ3 blocking antibody prevented the increase in β3 but not β5 integrin expression. In addition, echistatin inhibited TGFβ1-induced p38 MAPK but not Smad3 activation. Furthermore, inhibition of the Src family kinases, but not focal adhesion kinase, completely abrogated TGFβ1-induced expression of αvβ3 and p38 MAPK phosphorylation but not β5 integrin expression and Smad3 activation. The TGFβ1-induced αvβ3 expression was blocked by pharmacologic and genetic inhibition of p38 MAPK- but not Smad2/3-, Sp1-, ERK-, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and NF-κB-dependent pathways. Our results demonstrate that TGFβ1 induces αvβ3 integrin expression via a β3 integrin-, c-Src-, and p38 MAPK-dependent pathway. These data identify a novel mechanism for TGFβ1 signaling in human lung fibroblasts by which they may contribute to normal and pathological wound healing.

Human Lung Parenchyma but Not Proximal Bronchi Produces Fibroblasts with Enhanced TGF-β Signaling and α-SMA Expression

Given the contribution various fibroblast subsets make to wound healing and tissue remodeling, the concept of lung fibroblast heterogeneity is of great interest. However, the mechanisms contributing to this heterogeneity are unknown. To this aim, we compared molecular and biophysical characteristics of fibroblasts concurrently isolated from normal human proximal bronchi (B-FBR) and distal lung parenchyma (P-FBR). Using quantitative RT-PCR, spontaneous expression of more than 30 genes related to repair and remodeling was analyzed. All P-FBR lines demonstrated significantly increased basal α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) mRNA and protein expression levels when compared with donor-matched B-FBR. These differences were not associated with sex, age, or disease history of lung tissue donors. In contrast to B-FBR, P-FBR displayed enhanced transforming growth factor (TGF)-β/Smad signaling at baseline, and inhibition of either ALK-5 or neutralization of endogenously produced and activated TGF-β substantially decreased basal α-SMA protein in P-FBR. Both B-FBR and P-FBR up-regulated α-SMA after stimulation with TGF-β1, and basal expression levels of TGF-β1, TGF-βRI, and TGF-βRII were not significantly different between fibroblast pairs. Blockade of metalloproteinase-dependent activation of endogenous TGF-β did not significantly modify α-SMA expression in P-FBR. However, resistance to mechanical tension of these cells was significantly higher in comparison with B-FBR, and added TGF-β1 significantly increased stiffness of both cell monolayers. Our data suggest that in contrast with human normal bronchial tissue explants, lung parenchyma produces mesenchymal cells with a myofibroblastic phenotype by intrinsic mechanisms of TGF-β activation in feed-forward manner. These results also offer a new insight into mechanisms of human fibroblast heterogeneity and their function in the airway and lung tissue repair and remodeling.

Caveolin-1 Controls Airway Epithelial Barrier Function Implications for Asthma

The molecular basis for airway epithelial fragility in asthma has remained unclear. We investigated whether the loss of caveolin-1, the major component of caveolae and a known stabilizer of adherens junctions, contributes to epithelial barrier dysfunction in asthma. We studied the expression of caveolin-1 and adhesion molecules E-cadherin and β-catenin in airway sections, and we cultured bronchial epithelial cells from patients with asthma and from healthy control subjects. To determine the functional role of caveolin-1, we investigated the effects of caveolin-1 up-regulation and down-regulation on E-cadherin expression, barrier function, and proallergic activity in the human bronchial epithelial cell lines 16HBE and BEAS-2B. The membrane expression of caveolin-1 was significantly lower in airway epithelia from patients with asthma than from subjects without asthma, and this lower expression was maintained in vitro upon air-liquid interface and submerged culturing. Importantly, reduced caveolin-1 expression was accompanied by a loss of junctional E-cadherin and β-catenin expression, disrupted epithelial barrier function, and increased levels of the proallergic cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). Furthermore, E-cadherin redistribution upon exposure to epidermal growth factor or house dust mite was paralleled by the internalization of caveolin-1 in 16HBE cells. These effects appear to be causally related, because the short, interfering RNA down-regulation of caveolin-1 resulted in the delocalization of E-cadherin and barrier dysfunction in 16HBE cells. Moreover, caveolin-1 overexpression improved barrier function and reduced TSLP expression in BEAS-2B cells. Together, our data demonstrate a crucial role for caveolin-1 in epithelial cell-cell adhesion, with important consequences for epithelial barrier function and the promotion of Th2 responses in asthma.

BMP-7 Does Not Protect against Bleomycin-Induced Lung or Skin Fibrosis

Bone morphogenic protein (BMP)-7 is a member of the BMP family which are structurally and functionally related, and part of the TGFβ super family of growth factors. BMP-7 has been reported to inhibit renal fibrosis and TGFβ1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), in part through negative interactions with TGFβ1 induced Smad 2/3 activation. We utilized in vivo bleomycin-induced fibrosis models in the skin and lung to determine the potential therapeutic effect of BMP-7. We then determined the effect of BMP-7 on TGFβ1-induced EMT in lung epithelial cells and collagen production by human lung fibroblasts. We show that BMP-7 did not affect bleomycin-induced fibrosis in either the lung or skin in vivo; had no effect on expression of pro-fibrotic genes by human lung fibroblasts, either at rest or following exposure to TGFβ1; and did not modulate TGFβ1 -induced EMT in human lung epithelial cells. Taken together our data indicates that BMP-7 has no anti-fibrotic effect in lung or skin fibrosis either in vivo or in vitro. This suggests that the therapeutic options for BMP-7 may be confined to the renal compartment.