Real-time imaging of asthmatic epithelial cells identifies migratory deficiencies under type-2 conditions

The epithelium is increasingly recognized as a pathologic contributor to asthma and its phenotypes. Although delayed wound closure by asthmatic epithelial cells is consistently observed, underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood, partly due to difficulties in studying dynamic physiologic processes involving polarized multilayered cell systems. Although type-2 immunity has been suggested to play a role, the mechanisms by which repair is diminished are unclear.

This study sought to develop and utilize primary multilayered polarized epithelial cell systems, derived from patients with asthma, to evaluate cell migration in response to wounding under type-2 and untreated conditions.

A novel wounding device for multilayered polarized cells, along with time-lapse live cell/real-time confocal imaging were evaluated under IL-13 and untreated conditions. The influence of inhibition of 15 lipoxygenase (15LO1), a type-2 enzyme, on the process was also addressed. Cell migration patterns were analyzed by high-dimensional frequency modulated Möbius for statistical comparisons.

IL-13 stimulation negatively impacts wound healing by altering the total speed, directionality, and acceleration of individual cells. Inhibition 15LO1 partially improved the wound repair through improving total speed.

Migration abnormalities contributed to markedly slower wound closure of IL-13 treated cells, which was modestly reversed by 15LO1 inhibition, suggesting its potential as an asthma therapeutic target. These novel methodologies offer new ways to dynamically study cell movements and identify contributing pathologic processes.