IgE Regulates the Expression of smMLCK in Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cells

Previous studies have shown that enhanced accumulation of contractile proteins such as smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase (smMLCK) plays a major role in human airway smooth muscle cells (HASM) cell hypercontractility and hypertrophy. Furthermore, serum IgE levels play an important role in smooth muscle hyperreactivity. However, the effect of IgE on smMLCK expression has not been investigated. In this study, we demonstrate that IgE increases the expression of smMLCK at mRNA and protein levels. This effect was inhibited significantly with neutralizing abs directed against FcεRI but not with anti-FcεRII/CD23. Furthermore, Syk knock down and pharmacological inhibition of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) (ERK1/2, p38, and JNK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) significantly diminished the IgE-mediated upregulation of smMLCK expression in HASM cells. Taken together, our data suggest a role of IgE in regulating smMLCK in HASM cells. Therefore, targeting the FcεRI activation on HASM cells may offer a novel approach in controlling the bronchomotor tone in allergic asthma.     

IL-19对哮喘模型大鼠气道平滑肌细胞增殖的影响

目的探讨IL-19对哮喘大鼠气道平滑肌细胞（ASMCs）增殖的作用。方法通过对大鼠进行雾化卵清蛋白,制备哮喘模型大鼠。提取哮喘大鼠ASMCs进行培养,分别以1μg/L、10μg/L、100μg/L IL-19干预ASMCs生长。采用流式细胞仪、MTT法检测ASMCs增殖情况,观察不同浓度IL-19对ASMCs增殖的影响。结果与正常鼠相比,慢性哮喘大鼠ASMCs增殖明显,处于S期的细胞比例明显增高。经10μg/L、100μg/L IL-19干预后,慢性哮喘大鼠ASMCs处于S期的细胞比例减少,增殖亦减弱。且两组间比较有明显差异。而经1μg/L IL-19干预后,慢性哮喘大鼠ASMCs处于S期的细胞比例及增殖均无明显变化。结论一定浓度的IL-19可能抑制慢性哮喘大鼠ASMCs的增殖。     

Paclitaxel Induces Primary and Postmitotic G1 Arrest in Human Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells

Paclitaxel (PTX), a microtubule-active drug, causes mitotic arrest leading to apoptosis in certain tumor cell lines. Here we investigated the effects of PTX on human arterial smooth muscle cell (SMC) cells. In SMC, PTX caused both (a) primary arrest in G1 and (b) post-mitotic arrest in G1. Post-mitotic cells were multinucleated (MN) with either 2C (near-diploid) or 4C (tetraploid) DNA content. At PTX concentrations above12 ng/ml, MN cells had 4C DNA content consistent with the lack of cytokinesis during abortive mitosis. Treatment with 6-12 ng/ml PTX yielded MN cells with 2C DNA content. Finally, 1-6 ng/ml of PTX, the lowest concentrations that affected cell proliferation, caused G1 arrest without multinucleation. It is important that PTX did not cause apoptosis in SMC. The absence of apoptosis could be explained by mitotic exit and G1 arrest as well as by low constitutive levels of caspase expression and by p53 and p21 induction. Thus, following transient mitotic arrest, SMC exit mitosis to form MN cells. These post-mitotic cells were subsequently arrested in G1 but maintained normal elongated morphology and were viable for at least 21 days. We conclude that in SMC PTX causes post-mitotic cell cycle arrest rather than cell death.     

Ad-sTNFRI-IgGFc腺病毒载体的构建及其转染人气道平滑肌细胞

TNF-a是一种具有广泛生物学活性的前炎症细胞因子, 参与哮喘整个病理生理过程。可溶性肿瘤坏死因子受体(sTNFR)可以拮抗肿瘤坏死因子活性, 已被用来治疗与TNF相关的炎性疾病。将sTNFRI-IgGFc基因插入腺病毒穿梭质粒pDC316, 与辅助质粒pBHGloxΔE1, 3Cre共转染HEK293细胞, 重组产生Ad-sTNFRI-IgGFc, PCR鉴定毒种正确后, 进行扩增、纯化和滴度测定, 转染人气道平滑肌细胞, 利用RT-PCR、免疫组化方法, 流式细胞仪, ELISA检测转染后细胞中sTNFRI-IgGFc的转录和表达。实验结果证明成功构建了Ad-sTNFRI-IgGFc腺病毒载体, 感染性滴度达3×1010 TCID50/mL, 200 moi转染气道平滑肌细胞阳性率达99.32%, 转染后气道平滑肌细胞在mRNA和蛋白水平均有sTNFRI-IgGFc表达。转染上清稀释64倍后仍对TNF有拮抗活性。为将表达sTNFRI-IgGFc腺病毒基因治疗哮喘的实验研究提供了基础。     

Ad-sTNFRI-IgGFc腺病毒载体的构建及其转染人气道平滑肌细胞

TNF-a是一种具有广泛生物学活性的前炎症细胞因子, 参与哮喘整个病理生理过程。可溶性肿瘤坏死因子受体(sTNFR)可以拮抗肿瘤坏死因子活性, 已被用来治疗与TNF相关的炎性疾病。将sTNFRI-IgGFc基因插入腺病毒穿梭质粒pDC316, 与辅助质粒pBHGloxΔE1, 3Cre共转染HEK293细胞, 重组产生Ad-sTNFRI-IgGFc, PCR鉴定毒种正确后, 进行扩增、纯化和滴度测定, 转染人气道平滑肌细胞, 利用RT-PCR、免疫组化方法, 流式细胞仪, ELISA检测转染后细胞中sTNFRI-IgGFc的转录和表达。实验结果证明成功构建了Ad-sTNFRI-IgGFc腺病毒载体, 感染性滴度达3×1010 TCID50/mL, 200 moi转染气道平滑肌细胞阳性率达99.32%, 转染后气道平滑肌细胞在mRNA和蛋白水平均有sTNFRI-IgGFc表达。转染上清稀释64倍后仍对TNF有拮抗活性。为将表达sTNFRI-IgGFc腺病毒基因治疗哮喘的实验研究提供了基础。     

Tetraspanin CD9 Regulates Cell Contraction and Actin Arrangement via RhoA in Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

The most prevalent cardiovascular diseases arise from alterations in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) morphology and function. Tetraspanin CD9 has been previously implicated in regulating vascular pathologies; however, insight into how CD9 may regulate adverse VSMC phenotypes has not been provided. We utilized a human model of aortic smooth muscle cells to understand the consequences of CD9 deficiency on VSMC phenotypes. Upon knocking down CD9, the cells developed an abnormally small and rounded morphology. We determined that this morphological change was due to a lack of typical parallel actin arrangement. We also found similar total RhoA but decreased GTP-bound (active) RhoA levels in CD9 deficient cells. As a result, cells lacking a full complement of CD9 were less contractile than their control treated counterparts. Upon restoration of RhoA activity in the CD9 deficient cells, the phenotype was reversed and cell contraction was restored. Conversely, inhibition of RhoA activity in the control cells mimicked the CD9-deficient cell phenotype. Thus, alteration in CD9 expression was sufficient to profoundly disrupt cellular actin arrangement and endogenous cell contraction by interfering with RhoA signaling. This study provides insight into how CD9 may regulate previously described vascular smooth muscle cell pathophysiology.     

IL-33 Induces IL-9 Production in Human CD4+ T Cells and Basophils

IL-33, an IL-1 family member and ligand for the IL-1 receptor-related protein ST2, has been associated with induction of Th2 cytokines such as IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13. Here, we report that IL-33 can initiate IL-9 protein secretion in vitro in human CD4+ T cells and basophils isolated from peripheral blood. TGF-β has been described as a critical factor for IL-9 induction in Th2 cells; however, we found that TGF-β also induces co-production of IL-9 in purified, naïve (>99%) CD4⁺CD45RA⁺CD45RO⁻CD25⁻ T cells differentiated towards a Th1 profile. Subsequently, it was demonstrated that TGF-β is important, although not an absolute requirement, for IL-9 production in CD4+ T cells. IL-9 production by purified (>95%) human basophils, cultured for 24 h with IL-3 or IL-33, was found, with a strong synergy between the two, likely to be explained by the IL-3 upregulated ST2 expression. Collectively, these data indicate that barrier functioning cells are important for the regulation of IL-9 production by immune cells in inflamed tissue.     

Interaction between Bronchoconstrictor Stimuli on Human Airway Smooth Muscle

In healthy human subjects, the simultaneous aerosol administration of histamine and methacholine results in a pronounced decrease in maximum flow rates on partial expiratory flow-volume (PEFV) curves. When given alone in the same concentrations, these drugs produced no or minimal decreases in flow rates. The results suggest an interaction of histamine and cholinergic stimuli on airway smooth muscle (ASM). This mechanism might explain many experiments where vagal blockade diminished or abolished ASM response to histamine and other stimuli, simply by interfering with histamine-cholinergic interaction at the ASM level. These findings confirm similar findings of animal in vitro experiments. The experiments clearly confirm the sensitivity and value of assessing drug effects prior to a deep breath. Flow-rate changes after a full inspiration, taken from the maximum expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curve, show either no relationship to the concentration of inhaled methacholine or significantly less effect than that seen on the PEFV curve.     

Mechanical Strain Increases Protein Tyrosine Phosphorylation in Airway Smooth Muscle Cells

Mechanical stress contributes to normal structure and function of the lung as well as pathology in such diseases as bronchopulmonary dysplasia and adult respiratory distress syndrome. Stress-related increases in airway smooth muscle (ASM) quantity are reflectedin vitrowhere cultured ASM cells respond to cyclic deformational strain with increased proliferation, cell reorientation, protein production, stress fibers, and focal adhesions. To understand the mechanisms of mechanical signaling in ASM cells, we investigated whether strain increased tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion-related proteins. ASM cells were grown to confluence on collagen type I and subjected to 30 min of cyclic deformation strain (2 s of 25% deformation of the substratum, 2 s relaxation) and compared at various time points with identical cells not subjected to strain for phosphotyrosine content of three focal adhesion-concentrated proteins (pp125^FAK, paxillin, and talin) by Western blotting. Strain caused a rapid increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125^FAKand paxillin. Tyrosine phosphorylation decreased by 4 h in pp125^FAKafter discontinuing strain but remained elevated in paxillin at 24 h. Increases in tyrosine phosphorylation of talin were not found. In separate studies, when cells were strained in the presence of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (genistein and herbimycin A), strain-induced reorientation and elongation were inhibited. Mechanochemical signal transduction appears to mediate cell morphologic changes through quantitative and possibly qualitative changes in tyrosine phosphorylation of adhesion-related proteins.     

Mechanisms of Cigarette Smoke Effects on Human Airway Smooth Muscle

Cigarette smoke contributes to or exacerbates airway diseases such as asthma and COPD, where airway hyperresponsiveness and airway smooth muscle (ASM) proliferation are key features. While factors such as inflammation contribute to asthma in part by enhancing agonist-induced intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]i) responses of ASM, the mechanisms by which cigarette smoke affect ASM are still under investigation. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that cigarette smoke enhances the expression and function of Ca²⁺ regulatory proteins leading to increased store operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE) and cell proliferation. Using isolated human ASM (hASM) cells, incubated in the presence and absence cigarette smoke extract (CSE) we determined ([Ca²⁺]i) responses and expression of relevant proteins as well as ASM proliferation, reactive oxidant species (ROS) and cytokine generation. CSE enhanced [Ca²⁺]i responses to agonist and SOCE: effects mediated by increased expression of TRPC3, CD38, STIM1, and/or Orai1, evident by attenuation of CSE effects when siRNAs against these proteins were used, particularly Orai1. CSE also increased hASM ROS generation and cytokine secretion. In addition, we found in the airways of patients with long-term smoking history, TRPC3 and CD38 expression were significantly increased compared to life-long never-smokers, supporting the role of these proteins in smoking effects. Finally, CSE enhanced hASM proliferation, an effect confirmed by upregulation of PCNA and Cyclin E. These results support a critical role for Ca²⁺ regulatory proteins and enhanced SOCE to alter airway structure and function in smoking-related airway disease.     

An Age-Wise Comparison of Human Airway Smooth Muscle Proliferative Capacity

We compared the proliferation of neonatal and adult airway smooth muscle cells (ASMC) with no/moderate lung disease, in glucose- (energy production by glycolysis) or glucose-free medium (ATP production from mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylations only), in response to 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) and PDGF-AA. In the presence of glucose, cell counts were significantly greater in neonatal vs. adult ASMC. Similarly, neonatal ASMC DNA synthesis in 10% FCS and PDGF-AA, and [Ca²⁺]i responses in the presence of histamine were significantly enhanced vs. adults. In glucose-free medium, cell proliferation was preserved in neonatal cells, unlike in adult cells, with concomitant increased porin (an indicator of mitochondrial activity) protein expression. Compared to adults, stimulated neonatal human ASMC are in a rapid and robust proliferative phase and have the capacity to respond disproportionately under abnormal environmental conditions, through increased mitochondrial biogenesis and altered calcium homeostasis.     

Mathematical Modelling of Ca2+ Oscillations in Airway Smooth Muscle Cells

The action of different agonists such as acetylcholine on the membrane of airway smooth muscle cells may induce cytosolic Ca²⁺ oscillations which can be a part of the Ca²⁺ signalling pathway, eventually leading to cell contraction. The aim of the present study is to present a mathematical model of the possible effect of the initial Ca²⁺ distribution within the cell on the form and frequency of induced Ca²⁺ oscillations. It takes into account intracellular Ca²⁺ stores such as sarcoplasmic reticulum and cytosolic proteins as well as Ca²⁺ exchange across the plasma membrane. We are able to demonstrate a closer agreement of model predictions with observed Ca²⁺ traces for a significantly wider range of parameter values, as was previously reported. We show also that the total cellular Ca²⁺ content is an important system parameter especially because of the content in sarcoplasmic reticulum. At a total Ca²⁺ increase of about 20%, the oscillation frequency increases by 25%; also, damped oscillations become sustained. Cases are indicated in which such a situation could occur.