IL-31 does not induce normal human ciliated epithelial cells to differentiate into a phenotype consistent with the
Jeremy C Parker1, Surendran Thavagnanam1, Grzegorz Skibinski1
1Centre for Infection and Immunity, Health Sciences Building, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
Background:
IL-31 is a novel cytokine that has been implicated in allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis and more recently asthma. While IL-31 has been well studied in skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, little is known about the role IL-31 plays in asthma and specifically the differentiation process of the bronchial epithelium, which is central to the pathogenesis of allergic asthma.
Methods:
We examined the effects of IL-13 (20 ng/ml), IL-31 (20 ng/ml) and an IL-13/IL-31 combination stimulation (20 ng/ml each) on the in vitro mucociliary differentiation of paediatric bronchial epithelial cells (PBECs) from healthy patients (n=6). IL-31 receptor (IL-31-RA) expression, markers of differentiation (goblet and ciliated cells), transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), quantification of goblet and ciliated cells, real time PCR for MUC5AC, ELISA for VEGF, EGF and MCP-1 (CCL-2) and ELISA for MUC5AC were assessed.
Results:
We found that well-differentiated PBECs expressed IL-31-RA however it's expression did not increase upon stimulation with IL-31 or either of the other treatments. TEER indicated good formation of tight junctions which was found to be similar across all treatment groups (p=0.9). We found that IL-13 alone significantly reduced the number of ciliated cells compared with unstimulated (IL-13 stimuation: mean=4.8% (SD=2.5); unstimulated: mean=15.9%, (SD=7.4), p<0.01). IL-31 stimulation alone had no effect on ciliated cells whereas the IL-13/IL-31 combination stimulation significantly reduced the number of ciliated cells compared with control (IL-13/IL-31 combination: mean=5.1% (SD=4.6); unstimulated: mean=15.9%, (SD=7.4), p<0.01). We did not find that the combination of IL-13 and IL-31 had any additional effects to that of IL-13 alone. MUC5AC mRNA and secreted mucin was found in similar levels between unstimulated and all treatments, however IL-13 increased levels of MUC5AC mRNA by a factor of 2.84, albeit not significantly, compared with unstimulated cultures (IL-13 stimulation: mean=2.84 (SD=3.79); unstimulated: mean=1.0).
Conclusions:
IL-31RA receptor is present on well-differentiated paediatric bronchial epithelial cells. IL-31 does not exhibit any detrimental effects on mucociliary differentiation. IL-31 does not appear to have a synergistic effect when combined in culture with IL-13, in the differentiation process.
More Related Videos
10:39Advanced Imaging of Lung Homing Human Lymphocytes in an Experimental In Vivo Model of Allergic Inflammation Based on Light-sheet Microscopy
Published on: April 16, 2019
09:02Infection of Primary Nasal Epithelial Cells Grown at an Air-Liquid Interface to Characterize Human Coronavirus-Host Interactions
Published on: September 22, 2023
Related Concept Videos
01:20Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.
01:26Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
01:28Asthma I: Introduction
01:24T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
01:19Antiasthma Drugs: Leukotriene Modifiers
Leukotriene modifiers work through two distinct mechanisms:
01:24Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features