Differential regulation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator by interferon gamma in mast cells and epithelial cells.

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a cAMP-dependent chloride channel in epithelial cells; recently, we identified it in mast cells. Previous work that we confirmed showed that interferon gamma (IFNgamma) down-regulated CFTR expression in epithelial cells (T84), but by contrast, we found that IFNgamma up-regulated CFTR mRNA and protein expression in rat and human mast cells. IFNgamma up-regulation of CFTR in mast cells was inhibited by p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase inhibitors but not a Janus tyrosine kinase (JAK)2 inhibitor, whereas in T84 cells IFNgamma-mediated down-regulation of CFTR was JAK2-dependent and ERK- and p38-independent. Furthermore, IFNgamma down-regulation of CFTR in T84 epithelial cells was STAT1-dependent, but up-regulation of CFTR in mast cells was STAT1-independent. Thus, differential regulatory pathways of CFTR expression in mast cells and epithelial cells exist that depend upon either p38/ERK or JAK/STAT pathways, respectively. Surprisingly, IFNgamma treatment of mast cells inhibited Cl(-) efflux, in contrast to up-regulation of CFTR/mRNA and protein expression. However, down-regulation of Cl(-) flux correlated with IFNgamma-mediated inhibition of mediator secretion. This and other work suggests that the effect of IFNgamma on CFTR expression in mast cells is important for their function.

Proteinase-activated receptor (PAR)-1 and -2 agonists induce mediator release from mast cells by pathways distinct from PAR-1 and PAR-2.

Because thrombin-induced inflammation is partially mast cell-dependent and involves proteinase-activated receptors (PARs), we hypothesized that mast cells express PAR and can be stimulated with PAR-activating peptides (PAR-AP). We demonstrated that rat peritoneal mast cells expressed PAR-1 and PAR-2 mRNA, and that PAR-2AP (tc-LIGRLO-NH(2), 1 microm) induced 64.2 +/- 4.4% specific beta-hexosaminidase release from peritoneal mast cells, whereas another PAR-2AP (SLIGRL-NH(2), 10 microM), trypsin (40 U/ml), and mast cell tryptase (1.5 microg/ml) did not. PAR-1AP (ApfFRChaCitY-NH(2), 10 microM) (Cit) induced 11.7 +/- 3.7% specific beta-hexosaminidase release, whereas another PAR-1AP (TFLLR-NH(2), 40 microM) and human thrombin (10 U/ml) did not. PAR-AP, tc-LIGRLO-NH(2), and Cit increased the free intracellular Ca(2+) concentration, whereas trypsin, tryptase, thrombin, and other PAR-APs did not. Desensitization of Ca(2+) flux with different agonists suggests that although tc-LIGRLO-NH(2), Cit, and compound 48/80 have similar mechanisms of action, tc-LIGRLO-NH(2) also activates mast cells by a mechanism distinct from that of 48/80. Using benzalkonium chloride, which antagonizes the actions of 48/80 by competing for the same G(i) protein, we determined that benzalkonium chloride suppressed tc-LIGRLO-NH(2)-mediated (0.1 microM) beta-hexosaminidase release by 62%. Moreover, removal of sialic acid from peritoneal mast cells, using neuraminidase (2 U/ml), inhibited Cit- (10 microM, 52%) and tc-LIGRLO-NH(2) (0.5 microM, 29%)-mediated beta-hexosaminidase release. Thus, tc-LIGRLO-NH(2) and Cit have at least partially similar mechanisms of action as 48/80. PAR-AP may therefore activate mast cells via multiple mechanisms that are distinct from those of classical PAR-1 and PAR-2. The responsiveness of mast cells to PAR-AP via a non-PAR-1/non-PAR-2 mechanism complicates the interpretation of in vivo studies using these peptides.

Frontline: Inhibition of allergen-induced pulmonary inflammation by the tripeptide feG: a mimetic of a neuro-endocrine pathway.

Interactions between the neuro-endocrine system and immune system help maintain health. One interaction involves the superior cervical ganglia (SCG), which regulate the prohormone submandibular rat 1 (SMR1) produced by the submandibular gland (SMG). A peptide derived from SMR1, feG, has anti-inflammatory activity, and modification to D-isomer feG enhances bioactivity. We tested feG as a therapeutic agent for airways inflammation, using rats sensitized by OVA or Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nb). Treatment with feG but not fdG down-regulated OVA-challenge-induced increases in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)-derived macrophages, eosinophils and PMN (neutrophils) by 44%, 69% and 67%, respectively, at 24 h. We found that feG also reduced ICAM-1 on BAL-derived macrophages and eosinophils by 27% and 65%, and L-selectin on PMN by 55% following OVA challenge. Furthermore, feG but not fdG reduced the OVA-induced TNF increase in BAL fluid. We showed that feG also down-regulated both hyper-responsiveness to methacholine (by 27%) and microgranulomata formation in the lung parenchyma. In Nb-challenged rats, feG treatment inhibited ex vivo allergen-induced contraction of tracheal smooth muscle by up to 73%. In conclusion, feG, which is a mimetic of a peptide derived from a rat salivary gland prohormone, has anti-inflammatory properties in allergic airways inflammation in Brown-Norway rats. The role of the SCG-SMG neuro-endocrine pathway in allergic asthma and other inflammatory diseases requires additional study.

Inhibition of allergic inflammation in the airways using aerosolized antisense to Syk kinase.

Activation of the protein tyrosine kinase Syk is an early event that follows cross-linking of Fc gamma R and Fc epsilon R, leading to the release of biologically active molecules in inflammation. We reported previously that aerosolized Syk antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ASO) depresses Syk expression in inflammatory cells, the release of mediators from alveolar macrophages, and pulmonary inflammation. To study the effect of Syk ASO in allergic inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness, we used the Brown Norway rat model of OVA-induced allergic asthma. Syk ASO, delivered in a liposome, carrier/lipid complex by aerosol to rats, significantly inhibited the Ag-induced inflammatory cell infiltrate in the bronchoalveolar space, decreasing both neutrophilia and eosinophilia. The number of eosinophils in the lung parenchyma was also diminished. Syk ASO also depressed up-regulation of the expression of beta(2) integrins, alpha(4) integrin, and ICAM-1 in bronchoalveolar lavage leukocytes and reversed the Ag-induced decrease in CD62L expression on neutrophils. Furthermore, the increase in TNF levels in bronchoalveolar lavage following Ag challenge was significantly inhibited. Syk ASO also suppressed Ag-mediated contraction of the trachea in a complementary model. Thus, aerosolized Syk ASO suppresses many of the central components of allergic asthma and inflammation and may provide a new therapeutic approach.