Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interleukin (IL)-13 increase mucus secretion and inflammatory cytokine production in normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells. We evaluated the effect of club cell 10-kDa protein (CC10), an anti-inflammatory protein produced by epithelial cells, on mucus secretion, cell morphology and inflammatory cytokine production. NHBE cells were cultured at an air-liquid interface with CC10 or vehicle and exposed to LPS on day 14. Mucin MUC5AC, IL-8 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor were measured in cell supernatants. MUC5AC and IL-8 mRNA expression were measured by real-time PCR. Western blotting was used to evaluate nuclear factor (NF)-kB and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation. Cells were evaluated histologically. Additionally, NHBE cells were exposed to IL-13 and CC10 for 14 days, and secretion of the mucins MUC5AC and MUC5B was measured.MUC5AC secretion stimulated either by LPS or by IL-13 was attenuated by CC10 at 20 ng?mL -1 (p,0.05). CC10 at 20 ng?mL -1 also attenuated IL-8 secretion (p,0.05). MUC5AC and IL-8 mRNA expression were also decreased by CC10 (p,0.05). CC10 attenuated phosphorylation of NF-kB (p,0.05) and ERK1/2 (p,0.05).CC10 attenuates LPS-induced mucus secretion in airway cells, in part due to inhibition of NF-kB and ERK phosphorylation. @ERSpublications CC10 attenuates LPS-induced mucus secretion in airway cells and plays a role in decreasing airway inflammation

Stress applied to rats is known to result in a quick decrease in blood fluidity. Although electrical acupuncture stimulation (ACU) attenuates stress responses, the influence of ACU on blood fluidity has not been well examined. In the present study, the effect of ACU on blood fluidity and platelet adhesion was examined using a Micro Channel Array Flow Analyzer and a laser scattering platelet aggregometer (PA-20), respectively. Male Wistar rats (7-8 weeks old) were used. ACU (1 Hz, 3-5 V), which causes slight muscle twitching, was applied to acupoints for 60 minutes/day once or on 2 consecutive days. Stimulated acupoints were as follows: ZuSanli (ST-36), Sanyinjiao (SP-6), Hegu (L-I4), Neiguan (P-6), and Shenshu (BL-23). ACU applied to ST-36, SP-6, and L-14 revealed significant increases in blood fluidity while platelet adhesion activity decreased. No significant changes were observed when ACU was applied to P-6 and BL-23. Results indicate that ACU affects blood fluidity depending on the acupoints. Blood fluidity changed with ACU within 1 day. In other words, the effect of acupuncture has an immediate effect. In addition, platelet aggregation decreased with ACU, suggesting that an increase in blood fluidity is associated with platelet aggregation ability.

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