The role played by the β-galactoside–binding lectin galectin-3 (Gal-3) in airway remodeling, a characteristic feature of asthma that leads to airway dysfunction and poor clinical outcome in humans, was investigated in a murine model of chronic allergic airway inflammation. Wild-type (WT) and Gal-3 knockout (KO) mice were subjected to repetitive allergen challenge with OVA up to 12 wk, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue collected after the last challenge were evaluated for cellular features associated with airway remodeling. Compared to WT mice, chronic OVA challenge in Gal-3 KO mice resulted in diminished remodeling of the airways with significantly reduced mucus secretion, subepithelial fibrosis, smooth muscle thickness, and peribronchial angiogenesis. The higher degree of airway remodeling in WT mice was associated with higher Gal-3 expression in the BALF as well as lung tissue. Cell counts in BALF and lung immunohistology demonstrated that eosinophil infiltration in OVA-challenged Gal-3 KO mice was significantly reduced compared with that WT mice. Evaluation of cellular mediators associated with eosinophil recruitment and airway remodeling revealed that levels of eotaxin-1, IL-5, IL-13, found in inflammatory zone 1, and TGF-β were substantially lower in Gal-3 KO mice. Finally, leukocytes from Gal-3 KO mice demonstrated decreased trafficking (rolling) on vascular endothelial adhesion molecules compared with that of WT cells. Overall, these studies demonstrate that Gal-3 is an important lectin that promotes airway remodeling via airway recruitment of inflammatory cells, specifically eosinophils, and the development of a Th2 phenotype as well as increased expression of eosinophil-specific chemokines and profibrogenic and angiogenic mediators.
The effect of targeted inactivation of the gene encoding N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase-1 (Ndst1), a key enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of heparan sulfate (HS) chains, on the inflammatory response associated with allergic inflammation in a murine model of OVA-induced acute airway inflammation was investigated. OVA-exposed Ndst1f/fTekCre+ (mutant) mice deficient in endothelial and leukocyte Ndst1 demonstrated significantly decreased allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation characterized by a significant reduction in airway recruitment of inflammatory cells (eosinophils, macrophages, neutrophils, and lymphocytes), diminished IL-5, IL-2, TGF-β1, and eotaxin levels, as well as decreased expression of TGF-β1 and the angiogenic protein FIZZ1 (found in inflammatory zone 1) in lung tissue compared with OVA-exposed Ndst1f/fTekCre− wild-type littermates. Furthermore, murine eosinophils demonstrated significantly decreased rolling on lung endothelial cells (ECs) from mutant mice compared with wild-type ECs under conditions of flow in vitro. Treatment of wild-type ECs, but not eosinophils, with anti-HS Abs significantly inhibited eosinophil rolling, mimicking that observed with Ndst1-deficient ECs. In vivo, trafficking of circulating leukocytes in lung microvessels of allergen-challenged Ndst1-deficient mice was significantly lower than that observed in corresponding WT littermates. Endothelial-expressed HS plays an important role in allergic airway inflammation through the regulation of recruitment of inflammatory cells to the airways by mediating interaction of leukocytes with the vascular endothelium. Furthermore, HS may also participate by sequestering and modulating the activity of allergic asthma-relevant mediators such as IL-5, IL-2, and TGF-β1.
Intercellular communication mediated by gap junctions is important for tissue homeostasis in the avascular lens, and extensive areas of gap junctions form between fiber cells during fiber cell differentiation and lens development. We examined the role of the calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecule, N-cadherin, in the process of gap junction formation between fiber cells. Lentoids, multicellular structures with characteristics of differentiated fiber cells, were isolated from embryonic chick lens cultures and subsequently paired to provide an in vitro model of fiber cell interactions. Gap junction formation between cells of paired lentoids was monitored by observing the lentoid-to-lentoid transfer of fluorescent dyes, either calcein or Lucifer yellow, over a time course of up to 48 hr. Dye transfer between lentoids was inhibited upon the addition to the medium of Fab fragments (100-622 microgram/ml) of a monoclonal antibody specific for N-cadherin, and also by the reduction of extracellular calcium in the incubation medium. However, the addition of Fab fragments (100-1500 microgram/ml) of an antibody to a fiber-cell-specific integral membrane protein, MIP, did not change the time course nor extent of dye transfer between lentoids. Our results, using cultured embryonic cells, extend those from previous studies with cell lines and transfected cells. We conclude that cadherin interactions facilitate the formation of gap junctions between embryonic lens fiber cells, by the stabilization of membrane appositions and/or by the generation of an intracellular signal(s).
Background: Cell surface-expressed glycans play a role in leukocyte trafficking and recruitment. Results: Deficiency of MGAT5 causes attenuation of allergen-induced eosinophilia and Th2 cytokines but increases neutrophilic inflammation and airway hyperreactivity. Conclusion: Recruitment of eosinophils and neutrophils is differentially regulated by MGAT5-modified N-glycans during airway inflammation. Significance: This study demonstrates a significant role for N-glycans in the development of allergic airway inflammation and asthma.
The role played by Galectin‐3 (Gal‐3) in airway remodeling, a feature of chronic asthma that leads to airway dysfunction and poor clinical outcome in humans, was investigated in a murine model of asthma. Wild‐type (WT) and Gal‐3 knock‐out (KO) mice were subjected to repetitive allergen challenge with ovalbumin (OVA) up to 12 weeks and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue collected after the last challenge were evaluated. Chronic OVA challenge induced Gal‐3 expression in the lungs of WT mice. Cell counts in BALF and lung immunohistology demonstrated that eosinophil infiltration in OVA‐challenged Gal‐3 KO mice is significantly reduced compared to WT mice. Also, eotaxin‐1, IL‐2, IL‐4 and TGF‐β expression in these mice was substantially lower than in OVA‐challenged WT mice. Decreased eosinophil recruitment in Gal‐3 KO mice was associated with diminished remodeling of the airways with significantly reduced mucus secretion, sub‐epithelial fibrosis, smooth muscle thickness, and peribronchial angiogenesis. Finally, leukocytes from Gal‐3 KO mice demonstrated decreased trafficking on endothelial adhesion molecules compared to WT cells. Overall, blockade of Gal‐3 in a chronic setting leads to diminished airway inflammation and remodeling potentially due to reduced trafficking of inflammatory cells to sites of inflammation. 1National Institutes of Health grants AI35796, U19‐AI70535, HL0793041.
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