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Corticosteroids and beta2 agonists differentially regulate rhinovirus-induced interleukin-6 via distinct Cis-acting
Michael R Edwards1, Jennifer Haas, Rey A Panettieri
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute and Wright Fleming Institute of Infection and Immunity, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom. michael.edwards@ic.ac.uk
Beta(2) agonists like salmeterol and salbutamol increase interleukin-6 (IL-6) production during viral infections, while fluticasone propionate reduces it. This highlights complex interactions between asthma medications and airway inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory Medicine
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a key proinflammatory cytokine implicated in asthma and COPD exacerbations.
- The precise role of IL-6 in viral-induced exacerbations and the impact of common asthma treatments remain incompletely understood.
- IL-6 may contribute to both airway and systemic inflammation during these events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of fluticasone propionate and beta(2) agonists (salmeterol, salbutamol) on IL-6 production in airway epithelial cells.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of IL-6 gene expression by these asthma medications and rhinovirus.
- To determine how these drugs modulate IL-6 production in response to inflammatory stimuli.
Main Methods:
- Utilized BEAS-2B and primary human bronchial epithelial cells.
- Assessed IL-6 protein and mRNA levels following treatment with fluticasone propionate, salmeterol, and salbutamol.
- Employed IL-6 promoter reporter constructs, dominant-negative mutants, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) to study transcription factor involvement.
- Investigated the role of cyclic AMP (cAMP) and specific cis-acting elements (NF-kappaB, c/EBP, CRE, GRE).
Main Results:
- Salmeterol and salbutamol augmented rhinovirus- and IL-1beta-induced IL-6 production.
- Fluticasone propionate significantly reduced IL-6 protein and mRNA levels.
- Combined treatment with salmeterol and fluticasone showed no additive or synergistic effect on IL-6 induction.
- Beta(2) agonist-induced IL-6 production was dependent on the beta(2) receptor and cAMP signaling.
- Rhinovirus-induced IL-6 expression was primarily mediated by NF-kappaB.
- Salmeterol enhanced rhinovirus-induced promoter activity via c/EBP and/or CRE sites.
- Fluticasone's suppressive effect was mediated by glucocorticoid response elements (GREs).
Conclusions:
- Beta(2) agonists can enhance IL-6 expression induced by other stimuli in an additive manner, involving cyclic AMP pathways.
- Glucocorticoids, like fluticasone propionate, suppress IL-6 production through distinct glucocorticoid response elements in the IL-6 promoter.
- These findings reveal differential regulation of IL-6 by key asthma medications, impacting airway inflammation during exacerbations.
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