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Respiratory epithelial cells release IL-8 in response to thermophilic bacteria causing hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is a granulomatous inflammatory lung disease that is usually triggered by organic antigens. At early time points after inhalation of antigen, neutrophilic inflammation is prominent in the lungs. Interleukin (IL)-8 is a potent chemoattractant for neutrophils and it is known that alveolar macrophages can release IL-8 after exposure to organic antigens. However, the role of respiratory epithelial cells in the production of IL-8 in HP is unknown. We exposed A 549 epithelial cells to the thermophilic bacteria Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula (SR), and measured IL-8 release via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and IL-8 messenger RNA (mRNA) induction via Northern analysis. We observed a dose- and time- dependent release of IL-8 in response to SR. The maximal release of IL-8 was measured at 24-48 hours after exposure. There was also an increase in release of IL-6 in a time-dependent fashion. SR induced a peak increase in IL-8 mRNA at 12-24 hours. SR also triggered expression of the DNA-binding activity of NF-κB, a transcription factor that mediates activation of the IL-8 gene. Both corticosteroids and IL-10 blocked the production of IL-8. The release of IL8 was not mediated through IL-1β. These data suggest that SR-induced IL-8 production in airway epithelium may play a role in the initial inflammatory response in HP.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)217-228
Number of pages12
JournalExperimental Lung Research
Volume25
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1999

Other keywords

  • Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
  • Inflammation
  • Interleukin-8
  • Respiratory epithelial cells

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