Transforming growth factor-beta expression induced by rhinovirus infection in respiratory epithelial cells.
Rhinovirus infection of the lower airways is now a recognized disease, associated with bronchiolitis and asthma. The bronchial epithelial cells are the host cells when rhinovirus infection occurs in the airway. It was hypothesized that a pro-fibrotic growth factor response may occur in these infected cells, leading to production of a key transforming growth factor, TGF-beta-1. Bronchial epithelial cells were inoculated with human rhinovirus and compared at day 1, 3 and 5 to control non-infected cells. Cell culture supernatant fluid and cellular RNA were isolated. The amount of released TGF-beta protein was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Expression of TGF-beta at the level of transcription was measured by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gel electrophoresis. The results show that at all time points studied, TGF-beta production is greater in the infected cells, as demonstrated by ELISA (P<0.05) and by semi-quantitative PCR analysis. It was concluded that bronchial epithelial cells infected with common cold virus and rhinovirus, showed higher levels of TGF-beta. The production of TGF-beta may be indicative of a normal repair mechanism to counter inflammation, or in the setting of persistent asthma, could potentially lead to increased fibrosis and collagen deposition.
Dosanjh
Amrita
A
Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla 92037, USA. pulmd@aol.com
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D005355:Fibrosis; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008954:Models, Biological; D010850:Picornaviridae Infections / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012229:Rhinovirus / Q000378:metabolism*; D014132:Trachea / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta