title: Interleukin-31 induces cytokine and chemokine production from human bronchial epithelial cells through activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling pathways: implications for the allergic response.
abstract: Interleukin-31 (IL-31) is a novel T-helper-lymphocyte-derived cytokine that plays an important role in allergic skin inflammation and atopic dermatitis. It has recently been implicated in bronchial inflammation. We investigated the functions and mechanisms of IL-31-induced activation of human bronchial epithelial cells. The gene and protein expressions of candidate cytokines/chemokines from IL-31-stimulated human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells were first quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The activity of different mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in IL-31-stimulated BEAS-2B cells was assessed by Western blot. The IL-31 could significantly elevate the gene and protein expressions of epidermal growth factor (EGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2) of BEAS-2B cells in both time-dependently and dose-dependently. Combination of IL-31 with either IL-4 or IL-13 further enhanced VEGF and CCL2 production while IL-31 could synergistically augment the release of EGF, VEGF, CCL2, IL-6 and IL-8 in cocultures of BEAS-2B cells and eosinophils. In addition, IL-31 could activate p38 MAPK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) of BEAS-2B cells. Selective inhibitors of p38 MAPK (SB203580), ERK (PD98059), and JNK (SP600125) could differentially inhibit the production of EGF, VEGF and CCL2, thereby suggesting a role for MAPKs in IL-31 functions. In conclusion, the activation of MAPKs can be crucial for IL-31-mediated activation of bronchial epithelial cells, thereby providing an immunological role for IL-31 in bronchial inflammation, at least partly, via epithelial EGF, VEGF and CCL2 production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Wai K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Ip
authors.forename: Chun K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Mandy L Y
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Pok W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Phyllis F Y
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Christopher W K
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000378:metabolism; D018925:Chemokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000276:immunology*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000276:immunology; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C111835:CCL2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; C502187:IL31 protein, human; C502188:IL31RA protein, human; D018793:Interleukin-13; D007378:Interleukins; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D015847:Interleukin-4; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases