Influenza A virus (IAV) infection is known to induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, Fas-dependent apoptosis, and TGF-β production in a variety of cells. However, the relationship between these events in murine primary tracheal epithelial cells (MTECS), which are considered one of the primary sites of IAV infection and replication, is unclear. We show that IAV infection induced ER stress marker activating transcription factor-6 and endoplasmic reticulum protein 57-kD (ERp57), but not C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). In contrast, the ER stress inducer thapsigargin (THP) increased CHOP. IAV infection activated caspases and apoptosis, independently of Fas and caspase-8, in MTECs. Instead, apoptosis was mediated by caspase-12. A decrease in ERp57 attenuated the IAV burden and decreased caspase-12 activation and apoptosis in epithelial cells. TGF-β production was enhanced in IAV-infected MTECs, compared with THP or staurosporine. IAV infection caused the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Furthermore, IAV-induced TGF-β production required the presence of JNK1, a finding that suggests a role for JNK1 in IAV-induced epithelial injury and subsequent TGF-β production. These novel findings suggest a potential mechanistic role for a distinct ER stress response induced by IAV, and a profibrogenic/repair response in contrast to other pharmacological inducers of ER stress. These responses may also have a potential role in acute lung injury, fibroproliferative acute respiratory distress syndrome, and the recently identified H1N1 influenza-induced exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Wedzicha JA. Proc Am Thorac Soc 2004;1:115-120) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (Umeda Y, et al. Int Med 2010;49:2333-2336).

NF-κB activation within the epithelium has been implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma, yet the exact role of epithelial NF-κB in allergen-induced inflammation and airway remodeling remains unclear. In the present study, we utilized an intranasal House Dust Mite (HDM) extract exposure regimen time course in BALB/c mice to evaluate inflammation, NF-κB activation, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), and airway remodeling. We utilized CC10-IκBαSR transgenic mice to evaluate the functional importance of epithelial NF-κB in response to HDM. After a single exposure of HDM, mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory mediators was significantly elevated in lung tissue of WT mice, in association with increases in nuclear RelA and RelB, components of the classical and alternative NF-κB pathway, respectively, in the bronchiolar epithelium. In contrast, CC10-IκBαSR mice displayed marked decreases in nuclear RelA and RelB and mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory mediators compared to WT mice. After 15 challenges with HDM, WT mice exhibited increases in inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness, mucus metaplasia and peri-bronchiolar fibrosis. CC10-IκBαSR transgenic mice displayed marked decreases in neutrophilic infiltration, tissue damping, and elastance parameters, in association will less peri-bronchiolar fibrosis and decreases in nuclear RelB in lung tissue. However, central airway resistance and mucus metaplasia remained elevated in CC10-IκBαSR transgenic mice, in association with continued presence of lymphocytes, and partial decreases in eosinophils and IL-13. The current study demonstrates that following airway exposure with an asthma-relevant allergen, activation of classical and alternative NF-κB pathways occur within the airway epithelium and may coordinately contribute to allergic inflammation, AHR and fibrotic airway remodeling.

BackgroundThe endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response participates in many chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. In the current study, we sought to examine the contribution of ER stress transducers in the pathogenesis of three principal facets of allergic asthma: inflammation, airway fibrosis, and airways hyperresponsiveness.MethodsHouse Dust Mite (HDM) was used as an allergen for in vitro and in vivo challenge of primary human and murine airway epithelial cells. ER stress transducers were modulated using specific small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) in vivo. Inflammation, airway remodeling, and hyperresponsiveness were measured by total bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell counts, determination of collagen, and methacholine responsiveness in mice, respectively.ResultsChallenge of human bronchiolar and nasal epithelial cells with HDM extract induced the ER stress transducer, activating transcription factor 6 α (ATF6α) as well as protein disulfide isomerase, ERp57, in association with activation of caspase-3. SiRNA-mediated knockdown of ATF6α and ERp57 during HDM administration in mice resulted in a decrease in components of HDM-induced ER stress, disulfide mediated oligomerization of Bak, and activation of caspase-3. Furthermore, siRNA-mediated knockdown of ATF6α and ERp57 led to decreased inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness and airway fibrosis.ConclusionCollectively, our work indicates that HDM induces ER stress in airway epithelial cells and that ATF6α and ERp57 play a significant role in the development of cardinal features of allergic airways disease. Inhibition of ER stress responses may provide a potential therapeutic avenue in chronic asthma and sub-epithelial fibrosis associated with loss of lung function.

In a complex inflammatory airways disease such as asthma, abnormalities in a plethora of molecular and cellular pathways ultimately culminate in characteristic impairments in respiratory function. The ability to study disease pathophysiology in the setting of a functioning immune and respiratory system therefore makes mouse models an invaluable tool in translational research. Despite the vast understanding of inflammatory airways diseases gained from mouse models to date, concern over the validity of mouse models continues to grow. Therefore the aim of this review is two-fold; firstly, to evaluate mouse models of asthma in light of current clinical definitions, and secondly, to provide a framework by which mouse models can be continually refined so that they continue to stand at the forefront of translational science. Indeed, it is in viewing mouse models as a continual work in progress that we will be able to target our research to those patient populations in whom current therapies are insufficient.

The transcription factor, Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-κB) is a critical regulator of inflammation and immunity, and is negatively regulated via S-glutathionylation. The inhibitory effect of S-glutathionylation is overcome by glutaredoxin-1 (Grx1), which under physiological conditions catalyses deglutathionylation and enhances NF-κB activation. The mechanisms whereby expression of the Glrx1 gene is regulated remain unknown. Here we examined the role of NF-κB in regulating activation of Glrx1. Transgenic mice which express a doxycyclin-inducible constitutively active version of inhibitory kappa B kinase-beta (CA-IKKβ) demonstrate elevated expression of Grx1. Transient transfection of CA-IKKβ also resulted in significant induction of Grx1. A 2kb region Glrx1 promoter that contains two putative NF-κB binding sites was activated by CA-IKKβ, RelA/p50, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments confirmed binding of RelA to the promoter of Glrx1 in response to LPS. Stimulation of C10 lung epithelial cells with LPS caused transient increases in Grx1 mRNA expression, and time-dependent increases in S-glutathionylation of IKKβ. Overexpression of Grx1 decreased S-glutathionylation of IKKβ, prolonged NF-κB activation, and increased levels of pro-inflammatory mediators. Collectively, this study demonstrates that the Glrx1 gene is positively regulated by NF-κB, and suggests a feed forward mechanism to promote NF-κB signaling by decreasing S-glutathionylation.

The transcription factor NF-kB has been causally linked to inflammatory lung diseases. Recent studies have unraveled the complexity of NF-kB activation by identifying two parallel activation pathways: the classical NF-kB pathway, which is controlled by IkB kinase complex-b (IKKb) and RelA/p50, and the alternative pathway, which is controlled by IKKa and RelB/p52. The alternative pathway regulates adaptive immune responses and lymphoid development, yet its role in the regulation of innate immune responses remains largely unknown. In this study, we determined the relevance of the alternative NF-kB pathway in proinflammatory responses in lung epithelial cells. The exposure of C10 murine alveolar lung epithelial cells to diverse stimuli, or primary murine tracheal epithelial cells to LPS, resulted in the activation of both NF-kB pathways, based on the nuclear translocation of RelA, p50, RelB, and p52. Increases in the nuclear content of RelA occurred rapidly, but transiently, whereas increases in nuclear RelB content were protracted. The small interfering (si) RNAmediated knockdown of IKKa, RelA, or RelB resulted in decreases of multiple LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokines. Surprisingly, the siRNA ablation of IKKa or RelB led to marked increases in the production of IL-6 in response to LPS. The simultaneous expression of constitutively active (CA)-IKKa and CA-IKKb caused synergistic increases in proinflammatory mediators. Lastly, the disruption of the IKK signalsome inhibited the activation of both NF-kB pathways. These results demonstrate that the coordinated activation of both NF-kB pathways regulates the magnitude and nature of proinflammatory responses in lung epithelial cells.Keywords: lung; IkB kinase-b; IkB kinase-a; RelA; RelB NF-kB is a transcription factor that plays a cardinal role in multiple cellular processes, including survival, proliferation, and inflammation. In unstimulated cells, NF-kB dimers RelA and p50 are sequestered in the cytosol by the inhibitor of kB (IkBa). The IkB kinase complex (IKK) consists of two catalytic subunits, IKKb and IKKa, and the regulatory protein, IKKg (also known as NF-kB essential modulator). Upon ligation by a variety of stimuli such as TNF-a or Toll-like receptor agonists, IKKb is phosphorylated and in turn phosphorylates IkBa, leading to its subsequent ubiquitination and degradation by the 26S proteasome (1, 2). The processing of IkBa promotes the nuclear translocation of RelA/p50, leading to the transcriptional activation of NF-kB-dependent genes. NF-kB activates the transcription of many proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine genes that initiate and propagate innate immune responses (1, 2).The airway epithelium, classically regarded as the first line of defense against inhaled agents, toxic factors, and physical trauma, is now recognized as a key component of the innate immune system, and plays an active role in the orchestration of acute inflammatory and adaptive immune responses (3, 4). Upon stimulation, epithelial cells secrete proinflammatory mediators such as...

Protein-S-glutathionylation (PSSG) is an oxidative modification of reactive cysteines that has emerged as an important player in pathophysiological processes. Under physiological conditions, the thiol transferase, glutaredoxin-1 (Glrx1) catalyses deglutathionylation. Although we previously demonstrated that Glrx1 expression is increased in mice with allergic inflammation, the impact of Glrx1/PSSG in the development of allergic airways disease remains unknown. In the present study we examined the impact of genetic ablation of Glrx1 in the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in mice. Glrx1(-/-) or WT mice were subjected to the antigen, ovalbumin (OVA), and parameters of allergic airways disease were evaluated 48 h after three challenges, and 48 h or 7 days after six challenges with aerosolized antigen. Although no clear increases in PSSG were observed in WT mice in response to OVA, marked increases were detected in lung tissue of mice lacking Glrx1 48 h following six antigen challenges. Inflammation and expression of proinflammatory mediators were decreased in Glrx1(-/-) mice, dependent on the time of analysis. WT and Glrx1(-/-) mice demonstrated comparable increases in AHR 48 h after three or six challenges with OVA. However, 7 days postcessation of six challenges, parameters of AHR in Glrx1(-/-) mice were resolved to control levels, accompanied by marked decreases in mucus metaplasia and expression of Muc5AC and GOB5. These results demonstrate that the Glrx1/S-glutathionylation redox status in mice is a critical regulator of AHR, suggesting that avenues to increase S-glutathionylation of specific target proteins may be beneficial to attenuate AHR.

Glutathione has traditionally been considered as an antioxidant that protects cells against oxidative stress. Hence, the loss of reduced glutathione and formation of glutathione disulfide is considered a classical parameter of oxidative stress that is increased in diseases. Recent studies have emerged that demonstrate that glutathione plays a more direct role in biological and pathophysiological processes through covalent modification to reactive cysteines within proteins, a process known as S-glutathionylation. The formation of an S-glutathionylated moiety within the protein can lead to structural and functional modifications. Activation, inactivation, loss of function, and gain of function have all been attributed to S-glutathionylation. In pathophysiological settings, S-glutathionylation is tightly regulated. This perspective offers a concise overview of the emerging field of protein thiol redox modifications. We will also cover newly developed methodology to detect S-glutathionylation in situ, which will enable further discovery into the role of S-glutathionylation in biology and disease.