Periostin in Allergic Inflammation

Abstract

Periostin, an extracellular matrix protein belonging to the fasciclin family, has been shown to play a critical role in the process of remodeling during tissue/organ development or repair. Periostin functions as a matricellular protein in cell activation by binding to their receptors on cell surface, thereby exerting its biological activities. After we found that periostin is a downstream molecule of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13, signature cytokines of type 2 immune responses, we showed that periostin is a component of subepithelial fibrosis in bronchial asthma, the first formal proof that periostin is involved in allergic inflammation. Subsequently, a great deal of evidence has accumulated demonstrating the significance of periostin in allergic inflammation. It is of note that in skin tissues, periostin is critical for amplification and persistence of allergic inflammation by communicating between fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Furthermore, periostin has been applied to development of novel diagnostics or therapeutic agents for allergic diseases. Serum periostin can reflect local production of periostin in inflamed lesions induced by Th2-type immune responses and also can predict the efficacy of Th2 antagonists against bronchial asthma. Blocking the interaction between periostin and its receptor, αv integrin, or down-regulating the periostin expression shows improvement of periostin-induced inflammation in mouse models or in in vitro systems. It is hoped that diagnostics or therapeutic agents targeting periostin will be of practical use in the near future.

Periostin in bronchial asthma – a brief update

“…Nowadays, it is well recognized that the thickening of the epithelial-connective tissue interface in asthma is the consequence of excessive deposits of collagen types I, III, and V, associated to fibronectin and tenascin-C. Periostin identification in the same location as these extracellular matrix protein supports the assertion that they represent different components of the bronchial subepithelial fibrosis [9,16]. These initial observations have been later completed by other studies which revealed an increased periostin serum or sputum level in patients with allergic bronchial asthma [12,17,18].…”

“…Periostin has been initially thought to act as a ligand of alpha-V/beta-3 and alpha-V/beta-5 integrins, molecules which regulate epithelial cells adhesion and migration [5]. Later on, the intervention of this protein in bone tissue development, odontogenesis, heart valvular apparatus, post myocardial infarction remodeling, carcinogenesis [4,[6][7][8], and last but not least, allergic diseases development, such as eosinophilic esophagitis, atopic dermatitis, or allergic rhinitis has been demonstrated [9][10][11].…”

Potential Role of Serum Periostin in the Early Detection of Bronchial Asthma in Children

“…Этот белок опосредует активацию клетки путем связыва-ния с рецепторами на ее поверхности [40]. Повышенный уровень периостина в тканях наблюдают при различных воспалительных заболеваниях, сопровождающихся эози-нофилией [41,42].…”

Elevated Periostin Concentrations in the Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid of Patients with Eosinophilic Pneumonia

“…Although upregulated periostin expression has been demonstrated in the airway epithelial cells and subepithelial layer in asthma [1], its presence in the sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of asthmatics remains controversial [9, 10]. Although the reason for this discrepancy is unclear, periostin secretion from epithelial cells into the bronchial lumen may be negligible in asthma.…”

“…Periostin is an extracellular matrix protein that plays an important role in the process of tissue remodeling [1]. The expression of periostin is upregulated in the bronchial epithelial cells and fibroblasts of asthmatics, and this upregulation is probably caused by type 2 (T2) cytokines, such as IL-13 [2, 3].…”