Transient stretch induces cytoskeletal fluidization through the severing action of cofilin

With every deep inspiration (DI) or sigh, the airway wall stretches, as do the airway smooth muscle cells in the airway wall. In response, the airway smooth muscle cell undergoes rapid stretch-induced cytoskeletal fluidization. As a molecular mechanism underlying the cytoskeletal fluidization response, we demonstrate a key role for the actin-severing protein cofilin. Using primary human airway smooth muscle cells, we simulated a DI by imposing a transient stretch of physiological magnitude and duration. We used traction microscopy to measure the resulting changes in contractile forces. After a transient stretch, cofilin-knockdown cells exhibited a 29 ± 5% decrease in contractile force compared with prestretch conditions. By contrast, control cells exhibited a 67 ± 6% decrease ( P < 0.05, knockdown vs. control). Consistent with these contractile force changes with transient stretch, actin filaments in cofilin-knockdown cells remained largely intact, whereas actin filaments in control cells were rapidly disrupted. Furthermore, in cofilin-knockdown cells, contractile force at baseline was higher and rate of remodeling poststretch was slower than in control cells. Additionally, the severing action of cofilin was restricted to the release phase of the transient stretch. We conclude that the actin-severing activity of cofilin is an important factor in stretch-induced cytoskeletal fluidization and may account for an appreciable part of the bronchodilatory effects of a DI.