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Updated: Aug 21, 2026
Primary Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells Grown from Explants
Published on: March 26, 2010
Synthesis and secretion of interleukin-15 by freshly isolated human bronchial epithelial cells
Ning Ge1, Yasuhiko Nishioka, Yoichi Nakamura
1Department of Internal Medicine and Molecular Therapeutics, Course of Medical Oncology, University of Tokushima School of Medicine, Tokushima, Japan.
Background:
Interleukin-15 (IL-15), which shares many functional activities of IL-2, is proposed as a potential modulator of T and natural killer (NK) cell-mediated inflammatory diseases. Since IL-15 gene is expressed in various cell types including epithelial cells, we examined how proinflammatory modulators affect IL-15 gene expression in both freshly isolated human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) and the human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B.
Methods:
HBECs were obtained from 25 patients with primary lung cancer by bronchial brushing under bronchofiberscopy. The expressions of IL-15 and its receptor were examined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Northern blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results:
IL-15 mRNA was constitutively expressed in the cells and was upregulated by several proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and lipopolysaccharide. In addition, IFN-gamma but not other cytokines induced the synthesis and secretion of IL-15 protein. Investigation of IL-15 receptor expression using RT-PCR showed that IL-15Ralpha and IL-2Rbeta chains but not IL-2Ralpha or gamma chain were constitutively expressed in these cells.
Conclusions:
Bronchial epithelial cells may contribute to T and NK cell-mediated airway inflammation through IL-15 production.
