Abstract
Goblet cell hyperplasia (GCH) and decreased ciliated cells are characteristic of asthma. We examined the effects of IL-13 (2 and 20 ng/mL) on in vitro mucociliary differentiation in pediatric bronchial epithelial cells (PBECs) of normal PBEC [PBEC(N)] and asthmatic PBEC [PBEC(A)] children. Markers of differentiation, real-time PCR for MUC5AC, MUC5AC ELISA, and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) were assessed. Stimulation with 20 ng/mL IL-13 in PBEC(N) resulted in GCH [20 ng/mL IL-13: mean, 33.8% (SD, 7.2) versus unstimulated: mean, 18.9% (SD, 5.0); p < 0.0001] and decreased ciliated cell number [20 ng/mL IL-13: mean, 8% (SD, 5.6) versus unstimulated: mean, 22.7% (SD,7.6); p < 0.01]. PBEC(N) stimulated with 20 ng/mL IL-13 resulted in >5-fold (SD, 3.2) increase in MUC5AC mRNA expression, p < 0.001, compared with unstimulated PBEC(N). In PBEC(A), GCH was also seen [20 ng/mL IL-13: mean, 44.7% (SD, 16.4) versus unstimulated: mean, 30.4% (SD, 13.9); p < 0.05] with a decreased ciliated cell number [20 ng/mL IL-13: mean, 8.8% (SD, 7.5) versus unstimulated: mean, 16.3% (SD, 4.2); p < 0.001]. We also observed an increase in MUC5AC mRNA expression with 20 ng/mL IL-13 in PBEC(A), p < 0.05. IL-13 drives PBEC(N) toward an asthmatic phenotype and worsens the phenotype in PBEC(A) with reduced ciliated cell numbers and increased goblet cells.
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Abbreviations
- ALI:
-
air liquid interface
- GCH:
-
goblet cell hyperplasia
- PBEC:
-
pediatric bronchial epithelial cells
- PBEC(A):
-
asthmatic pediatric bronchial epithelial cells
- PBEC(N):
-
normal pediatric bronchial epithelial cells
- TEER:
-
transepithelial electrical resistance
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Acknowledgements
We thank Mr. English, Ear Nose and Throat Surgeon, for allowing us to recruit his patients for this study.
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Supported by the Irish Thoracic Society—Boehringer Ingelheim Research Fellowship, Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke Association, and the James Trust, British Medical Association.
Presented, in part, at the Annual meeting of the British Thoracic Society 2008 and European Respiratory Society 2009.
L.G.H. and M.D.S. are joint senior authors.
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Thavagnanam, S., Parker, J., McBrien, M. et al. Effects of IL-13 on Mucociliary Differentiation of Pediatric Asthmatic Bronchial Epithelial Cells. Pediatr Res 69, 95–100 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1203/PDR.0b013e318204edb5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/PDR.0b013e318204edb5