title: The IkappaB kinase is a key factor in triggering influenza A virus-induced inflammatory cytokine production in airway epithelial cells.
abstract: Influenza A viruses continue to represent a severe threat worldwide, causing large epidemics and pandemics responsible for thousands of deaths every year. Excessive inflammation due to overabundant production of proinflammatory cytokines by airway epithelial cells is considered an important factor in disease pathogenesis. Here we report that influenza A virus induced IkappaB kinase (IKK) activity in human airway epithelial A549 cells, resulting in persistent activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), a critical regulator of the inflammatory response. Although lung epithelial cells are highly sensitive to stimulation of the IKK/NF-kappaB pathway by influenza virus infection, NF-kappaB was not activated in several non-pulmonary cells permissive to the virus, indicating a cell-specific response. Moreover, NF-kappaB was not essential for virus replication but triggered the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in infected lung cells and was directly responsible for production of high levels of interleukin-8, a chemokine associated with influenza-induced inflammation and airway pathology. We also report that 9-deoxy-delta9,delta12-13,14-dihydro-prostaglandin D2, a cyclopentenone prostanoid with therapeutic efficacy against influenza in preclinical studies, was a powerful inhibitor of influenza virus-induced IKK activity and interleukin-8 production by human pulmonary cells. The results identify IKK as an important factor in triggering influenza virus-induced inflammatory reactions in pulmonary epithelium, suggesting novel therapeutic approaches in the treatment of influenza.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, Rome 00133, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bernasconi
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Amici
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: La Frazia
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ianaro
authors.forename: M Gabriella
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Santoro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D017931:DNA Primers; D004285:Dogs; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D006801:Humans; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D016209:Interleukin-8; D016328:NF-kappa B; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C496559:CHUK protein, human; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase; C496560:IKBKB protein, human; C496565:IKBKE protein, human