We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Apoptotic cell clearance by bronchial epithelial cells critically influences airway inflammation.
- Authors
Juncadella, Ignacio J.; Kadl, Alexandra; Sharma, Ashish K.; Shim, Yun M.; Hochreiter-Hufford, Amelia; Borish, Larry; Ravichandran, Kodi S.
- Abstract
Lung epithelial cells can influence immune responses to airway allergens. Airway epithelial cells also undergo apoptosis after encountering environmental allergens; yet, relatively little is known about how these are cleared, and their effect on airway inflammation. Here we show that airway epithelial cells efficiently engulf apoptotic epithelial cells and secrete anti-inflammatory cytokines, dependent upon intracellular signalling by the small GTPase Rac1. Inducible deletion of Rac1 expression specifically in airway epithelial cells in a mouse model resulted in defective engulfment by epithelial cells and aberrant anti-inflammatory cytokine production. Intranasal priming and challenge of these mice with house dust mite extract or ovalbumin as allergens led to exacerbated inflammation, augmented Th2 cytokines and airway hyper-responsiveness, with decreased interleukin (IL)-10 in bronchial lavages. Rac1-deficient epithelial cells produced much higher IL-33 upon allergen or apoptotic cell encounter, with increased numbers of nuocyte-like cells. Administration of exogenous IL-10 'rescued' the airway inflammation phenotype in Rac1-deficient mice, with decreased IL-33. Collectively, these genetic and functional studies suggest a new role for Rac1-dependent engulfment by airway epithelial cells and in establishing the anti-inflammatory environment, and that defects in cell clearance in the airways could contribute to inflammatory responses towards common allergens.
- Subjects
EPITHELIAL cells; IMMUNE response; ALLERGENS; APOPTOSIS; INFLAMMATION
- Publication
Nature, 2013, Vol 493, Issue 7433, p547
- ISSN
0028-0836
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/nature11714