Change of connexin 37 in allergen-induced airway inflammation.
Gap junction channels formed with connexins directly link to the cytoplasm of adjacent cells and have been implicated in intercellular signaling. Connexin 37 (Cx37) is expressed in the gas-exchange region of the lung. Recently, Cx37 has been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disease. However, no data are available on the role of Cx37 in allergic airway inflammatory disease. In the present study, we used a murine model of ovalbumin (OVA)- induced allergic airway disease and primary murine epithelial cells to examine the change of Cx37 in allergic airway disease. These mice develop the following typical pathophysiological features of asthma: airway hyperresponsiveness, airway inflammation, and increased IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, eotaxin, and RANTES levels in lungs. Cx37 protein and mRNA expression were decreased in OVA-induced allergic airway disease. Immunoreactive Cx37 localized in epithelial layers around the bronchioles in control mice, which dramatically disappeared in allergen-induced asthmatic lungs. Moreover, the levels of Cx37 protein in lung tissues showed significantly negative correlations with airway inflammation, airway responsiveness, and levels of Th2 cytokines in lungs. These findings indicate that change of Cx37 may be associated with the asthma phenotype.
Department of Internal Medicine and Airway Remodeling Laboratory, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju 561-180, Korea.
Seoung Ju
SJ
Park
Kyung Sun
KS
Lee
So Ri
SR
Kim
Kyung Hoon
KH
Min
Ka Young
KY
Lee
Yeong Hun
YH
Choe
Seung Yong
SY
Park
Sang Hyun
SH
Hong
Yong Chul
YC
Lee
D000403:Airway Resistance; D000485:Allergens / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism; D017630:Connexins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology / Q000633:toxicity; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014132:Trachea / Q000378:metabolism; D000097006:Gap Junction alpha-4 Protein
D000485:Allergens; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D018925:Chemokines; D017630:Connexins; D016207:Cytokines; D017931:DNA Primers; D010047:Ovalbumin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000097006:Gap Junction alpha-4 Protein