Transcription factors in allergic diseases.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Pierre-Olivier Fiset.
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BACKGROUND: IL-17E is a new TH2 cytokine that promotes airway eosinophilia in mice. IL-17E proinflammatory activity has been proposed to involve induction of cytokine and chemokine production. Recruitment of inflammatory cells may be mediated by tissue-resident cells. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate whether fibroblasts represent a target of IL-17E for the production of eosinophil active mediators in the lung. METHODS: Expression of IL-17B receptor (IL-17BR), a receptor for IL-17E, was evaluated by immunofluorescent staining, Western blot, and real-time PCR in human primary lung fibroblasts. Mediator production was analyzed by using real-time PCR and ELISA after stimulation of fibroblasts with IL-17E alone or in combination with TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1. Expression of IL-17E and of eosinophil major basic protein was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in bronchial biopsies from subjects with asthma. RESULTS: Human primary lung fibroblasts constitutively expressed IL-17BR. IL-17BR mRNA levels were increased in cells stimulated with TNF-alpha and decreased with TGF-beta1. IL-17E slightly upregulated CC chemokine ligand (CCL)-5, CCL-11, GM-CSF, and CXC chemokine ligand (CXCL)-8 mRNA in fibroblasts. Moreover, IL-17E and TNF-alpha synergistically induced GM-CSF and CXCL-8 mRNA. IL-17E also potentiated the upregulation of CXCL-8 transcripts observed with TGF-beta1. In contrast, TGF-beta1 decreased IL-17E-induced CCL-11 mRNA. The capacity of IL-17E to enhance GM-CSF and CXCL-8 responses to TNF-alpha was accompanied by production and secretion of both proteins by lung fibroblasts. Finally, IL-17E was detected in asthma in eosinophil-infiltrated bronchial submucosa. CONCLUSION: IL-17E may contribute to the induction and maintenance of eosinophilic inflammation in the airways by acting on lung fibroblasts. This study supports a role for IL-17E in asthma pathophysiology.
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BACKGROUND: Cytokines and chemokines have been implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma. Inhaled corticosteroids have been shown to decrease the number of eosinophils and to downregulate T H 2 cytokines but to increase neutrophils. The effect of corticosteroids on chemokine expression in asthma has not yet been investigated. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the effect of a 2-week course of oral corticosteroid (methylprednisolone, 40 mg/d) on the expression of CXC chemokines (IL-8 and IFN-gamma-inducible protein 10 [IP-10]) and CC chemokines (eotaxin and monocyte chemotactic proteins [MCPs] 1-4) in endoscopic biopsy specimens of 13 patients with moderate-to-severe asthma. METHODS: CD3, major basic protein, and elastase immunoreactivities were monitored before and after treatment by using immunocytochemistry. Eotaxin, IL-8, IP-10, MCP-1, MCP-2, MCP-3, and MCP-4 mRNA expression in epithelium and submucosa were studied by using in situ hybridization. RESULTS: Corticosteroids reduced the number of CD3-positive T cells and major basic protein-positive eosinophils ( P < .05), whereas the number of neutrophils were increased ( P < .05). Corticosteroids also reduced the number of eotaxin ( P < .05), MCP-3, and MCP-4 mRNA-positive cells ( P < .001) in the epithelium and subepithelium. However, corticosteroids caused a significant increase in the epithelial expression of IL-8 ( P < .001), IP-10 ( P < .05), and MCP-2 mRNAs ( P < .01). Corticosteroids had no effects on MCP-1 mRNA expression. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate the dual nature of corticosteroids. Although corticosteroids can downregulate the expression of some asthma-associated chemokines, such as eotaxin, MCP-3, and MCP-4, they can also upregulate the expression of other chemokines, including IL-8, IP-10, and MCP-2. The failure of oral corticosteroids to inhibit IL-8 mRNA expression might contribute to persistent airway neutrophilia observed in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma, despite treatment with corticosteroids.
BACKGROUND: Exposure to bacterial products in early life could protect against development of atopy. We examined the effect of bacterial lipopolysaccharide on allergic inflammation and expression of cytokines and lipopolysaccharide receptor (toll-like receptor 4 TLR4) in nasal mucosa of 15 atopic children and ten atopic adults. METHODS: Explanted mucosa was cultured with allergen with or without lipopolysaccharide (0.1 mg/L) for 24 h. Immunocytochemistry and in-situ hybridisation were used to phenotype the cells and cytokines. FINDINGS: In explants from atopic children, lipopolysaccharide prevented allergen-induced T-helper type 2 (Th2) inflammation and upregulated Th1 cytokine reactivity and expression. These effects were blocked by antibody to interleukin 10. In children but not in adults, lipopolysaccharide caused increases of three times in T-cell reactivity, five times in T-cell proliferation, and four times in expression of interleukin 10 compared with mucosa stimulated with allergen alone. This difference in response was mirrored by lipopolysaccharide-induced increases in TLR4 reactivity in children but not adults. TLR4 receptor was expressed by CD3-positive T cells, and TLR4-positive cells contained interleukin 10. Lipopolysaccharide increased expression of cells positive for both CD3 and TLR4; both TLR4 and interleukin 10; and both CD4 and CD25. INTERPRETATION: Lipopolysaccharide inhibits allergic inflammation in nasal mucosa of atopic children by skewing local immune responses from Th2 to Th1 and upregulating production of interleukin 10. These effects are mediated by TLR4. Our results emphasise an important difference between adults and children in their ability to respond to bacterial products. These differences could have a role in normal maturation of the immune system.
BACKGROUND: Amb a 1-immunostimulatory phosphorothioate oligonucleotide conjugate (AIC) is a novel immunotherapeutic compound consisting of purified Amb a 1 from short ragweed proteins covalently linked to an immunostimulatory phosphorothioate oligodeoxyribonucleotide. In sensitized animals AIC can stimulate an Amb a 1-specific T(H)1 response and decrease pulmonary reactivity to ragweed challenge. Clinical trials have documented reduced allergic response to AIC in comparison with licensed ragweed extract. OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the in vivo effect of short-course immunotherapy with AIC on eosinophilia and cytokine mRNA expression in the nasal mucosa of ragweed-sensitive patients. METHODS: Ragweed-sensitive patients with allergic rhinitis were treated with 6 escalating doses of AIC (0.06-12 microg, n = 28) or placebo (n = 29) at weekly intervals immediately before the 2001 ragweed season. Symptom scores and medication use were recorded for the 2001 and 2002 ragweed seasons for all patients. A subset of patients (12 receiving AIC and 7 receiving placebo) consented to have nasal biopsy specimens taken before immunization and before and after the first ragweed season. The preseason and postseason biopsy specimens were taken 24 hours after ragweed allergen challenge and compared with the initial unchallenged biopsy specimen to assess cytokine and inflammatory cell responses by using immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization. RESULTS: AIC was safe and well tolerated by all patients. There was no difference between the AIC and placebo groups in the number of allergen-induced major basic protein-, IL-4-, IL-5-, or IFN-gamma-positive cells in the mucosa in the first weeks after AIC immunization. On rechallenge and rebiopsy after the end of the 2001 ragweed season, however, AIC-treated patients had a significantly reduced increase in eosinophils and IL-4 mRNA-positive cells and an increased number of IFN-gamma mRNA-positive cells compared with placebo-treated patients. No difference between treatment groups was observed in symptom scores or medication use during the first ragweed season. During the second ragweed season, however, there was a significant decrease in chest symptoms and a trend toward reduced nasal symptoms in the AIC-treated group. CONCLUSION: Short-course immunotherapy with AIC can modify the response of nasal mucosa to allergen challenge by increasing T(H)1 cytokine production and decreasing T(H)2 cytokine production and eosinophilia. This modification was not immediate but was observed 4 to 5 months after completion of immunotherapy and seasonal ragweed-pollen exposure. The T-cell subset shift after immunization and seasonal exposure was followed by evidence of clinical efficacy in the second ragweed season without additional AIC immunizations.
BACKGROUND: The cytokine IL-4 is highly involved in T(H)2 inflammation, such as that seen in allergic rhinitis. IL-4 can induce IgE synthesis and eotaxin. Recent studies have shown that stimulation of allergic nasal tissue with ragweed allergen can induce local IL-4 mRNA production. OBJECTIVE: We set out to determine whether IL-4 antisense phosphorothioate-modified oligodeoxynucleotides (PS-ODNs) could inhibit IL-4 production and downstream events of IL-4. METHODS: Nasal mucosa biopsy specimens were obtained from patients with seasonal ragweed allergic rhinitis out of season, incubated ex vivo with or without PS-ODNs, and challenged with ragweed. FITC-labeled oligonucleotides were used to determine tissue uptake. By using immunocytochemistry, IL-4-, IL-13-, eotaxin 1-, and IFN-gamma-producing cells were enumerated, and by using in situ hybridization, epsilon germline transcript RNA- and IL-4 mRNA-positive cells were examined. RESULTS: The antisense PS-ODN was taken up by the tissue, and preincubation of the tissue with the IL-4 antisense PS-ODN caused a decrease in allergen-induced IL-4 mRNA and a decrease in the amount of IL-4 immunoreactivity (n = 7, P <.001). PS-ODNs had inhibitory effects on allergen-induced epsilon germline transcript RNA expression (n = 7, P <.001) and mucosa eotaxin 1 immunoreactivity (n = 7, P <.05). In contrast, the PS-ODNs increased the amount of IFN-gamma immunoreactivity (n = 7, P <.05), suggesting a nonspecific mechanism for reduced synthesis of IgE and eotaxin. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that the IL-4 antisense PS-ODN effectively inhibits IL-4, IgE synthesis, and eotaxin, principal mediators of allergic inflammation, suggesting that PS-ODNs might offer a possible topical treatment for allergic rhinitis.