BACKGROUND: Airway remodeling may play an important role in asthma pathophysiology. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) has a critical role in the remodeling process. Although cellular sources for TGF-beta have been previously investigated in asthma airways, the expression, release, or both of TGF-beta from asthmatic airways and blood neutrophils has not been reported. OBJECTIVE: The current study evaluated the TGF-beta protein and messenger (m)RNA expression by airway and peripheral blood neutrophils in asthmatic and normal subjects. METHODS: TGF-beta protein expression by airway and peripheral blood neutrophils was detected by using immunocytochemistry. TGF-beta protein levels in blood neutrophil supernatant were measured by using an enzyme immunoassay. TGF-beta mRNA expression was evaluated by using reverse transcription-PCR. RESULTS: Higher numbers of TGF-beta(+) cells and neutrophils were found in airway tissue of asthmatic (n = 15) compared with normal subjects (n = 10). Although neutrophils in both asthmatic and normal airway tissue expressed TGF-beta protein and the percentage of neutrophils expressing TGF-beta was similar between the two groups, the total number of TGF-beta(+) neutrophils was higher in the asthmatic subjects (P =.01). Peripheral blood neutrophils from asthmatic (n = 5) and normal subjects (n = 7) also expressed TGF-beta protein and mRNA. Blood neutrophils from asthmatic subjects spontaneously released significantly higher levels of TGF-beta than those from normal subjects (P =.007). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that airway and blood neutrophils from both asthmatic and normal subjects can express and release TGF-beta. Higher levels of TGF-beta expression-release from asthmatic neutrophils indicate that neutrophils may be involved in the airway remodeling process of asthmatic subjects.
BACKGROUND: Airway remodeling may play an important role in asthma pathophysiology. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) has a critical role in the remodeling process. Although cellular sources for TGF-beta have been previously investigated in asthma airways, the expression, release, or both of TGF-beta from asthmatic airways and blood neutrophils has not been reported. OBJECTIVE: The current study evaluated the TGF-beta protein and messenger (m)RNA expression by airway and peripheral blood neutrophils in asthmatic and normal subjects. METHODS:TGF-beta protein expression by airway and peripheral blood neutrophils was detected by using immunocytochemistry. TGF-beta protein levels in blood neutrophil supernatant were measured by using an enzyme immunoassay. TGF-beta mRNA expression was evaluated by using reverse transcription-PCR. RESULTS: Higher numbers of TGF-beta(+) cells and neutrophils were found in airway tissue of asthmatic (n = 15) compared with normal subjects (n = 10). Although neutrophils in both asthmatic and normal airway tissue expressed TGF-beta protein and the percentage of neutrophils expressing TGF-beta was similar between the two groups, the total number of TGF-beta(+) neutrophils was higher in the asthmatic subjects (P =.01). Peripheral blood neutrophils from asthmatic (n = 5) and normal subjects (n = 7) also expressed TGF-beta protein and mRNA. Blood neutrophils from asthmatic subjects spontaneously released significantly higher levels of TGF-beta than those from normal subjects (P =.007). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that airway and blood neutrophils from both asthmatic and normal subjects can express and release TGF-beta. Higher levels of TGF-beta expression-release from asthmatic neutrophils indicate that neutrophils may be involved in the airway remodeling process of asthmatic subjects.
Authors: Maria Simarro; Giorgio Giannattasio; Miguel A De la Fuente; Charaf Benarafa; Kulandayan K Subramanian; Rumey Ishizawar; Barbara Balestrieri; Emma M Andersson; Hongbo R Luo; Antonio Orduña; Joshua Boyce; Paul Anderson Journal: J Immunol Date: 2010-04-02 Impact factor: 5.422
Authors: Qun Wu; Di Jiang; Sean Smith; Jyoti Thaikoottathil; Richard J Martin; Russell P Bowler; Hong Wei Chu Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2011-12-09 Impact factor: 10.793
Authors: Harsha H Kariyawasam; Sophie Pegorier; Julia Barkans; Georgina Xanthou; Maxine Aizen; Sun Ying; A Barry Kay; Clare M Lloyd; Douglas S Robinson Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2009-09 Impact factor: 10.793
Authors: R D May; P D Monk; E S Cohen; D Manuel; F Dempsey; N H E Davis; A J Dodd; D J Corkill; J Woods; C Joberty-Candotti; L A Conroy; F Koentgen; E C Martin; R Wilson; N Brennan; J Powell; I K Anderson Journal: Br J Pharmacol Date: 2012-05 Impact factor: 8.739