Effects of ragweed and Th-2 cytokines on the secretion of IL-8 in human airway epithelial cells.
Ragweed-induced asthma is a very common pulmonary disease. An important part of asthma is a large increase in inflammatory cells, including neutrophils and eosinophils, in ragweed-sensitilized subjects. In this study, we determined if ragweed treatment could induce the release of interleukin-8 (IL-8) by human airway epithelial cells. We found that ragweed induces a substantial increase of the secretion of IL-8 from A549 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Th-2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-13, partially inhibited the ragweed-induced secretion of IL-8. Our results suggest that airway epithelial cells may be one of the cell sources that provide IL-8 during ragweed-induced asthma. The results also indicate that IL-4 and IL-13 may exert inhibitory effects on IL-8 secretion by airway epithelium.
Department of Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242, USA.
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Chen
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Hunninghake
D000485:Allergens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000166:cytology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000485:Allergens; D016207:Cytokines; D018793:Interleukin-13; D016209:Interleukin-8; D010940:Plant Proteins; D015847:Interleukin-4