title: Selective transcriptional down-regulation of human rhinovirus-induced production of CXCL10 from airway epithelial cells via the MEK1 pathway.
abstract: Human rhinovirus (HRV) infections can trigger exacerbations of lower airway diseases. Infection of airway epithelial cells induces production of a number of proinflammatory chemokines that may exacerbate airway inflammation, including CXCL10, a chemoattractant for type 1 lymphocytes and NK cells. Primary human bronchial epithelial cells and the BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelial cell line were used to examine the role of MAPK pathways in HRV-16-induced production of CXCL10. Surprisingly, PD98059 and U0126, two inhibitors of the MEK1/2-ERK MAPK pathway, significantly enhanced HRV-16-induced CXCL10 mRNA and protein. This enhancement was not seen with IFN-beta-induced production of CXCL10. Studies using small interfering RNA revealed that knockdown of MEK1, but not MEK2, was associated with enhanced HRV-induced CXCL10 production. Promoter construct studies revealed that PD98059 and U0126 enhanced HRV-16-induced transcriptional activation of CXCL10. HRV-16-induced promoter activation was regulated by two NF-kappaB binding sites, kappaB1 and kappaB2, and by an IFN-stimulated response element. Inhibitors of the MEK1/2-ERK pathway did not alter HRV-16-induced activation of tandem repeat kappaB1 or kappaB2 constructs, nor did they alter HRV-16-induced nuclear translocation/binding of NF-kappaB to either kappaB1 or kappaB2 recognition sequences. Furthermore, PD98059 and U0126 did not alter phosphorylation or degradation of IkappaBalpha. In contrast, inhibitors of the MEK1/2-ERK pathway, and small interfering RNA knockdown of MEK1, enhanced nuclear translocation/binding of IFN regulatory factor (IRF)-1 to the IFN-stimulated response element recognition sequence in HRV-16 infected cells. We conclude that activation of MEK1 selectively down-regulates HRV-16-induced expression of CXCL10 via modulation of IRF-1 interactions with the gene promoter in human airway epithelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Airway Inflammation Group, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Raza S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Zaheer
authors.forename: Rommy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koetzler
authors.forename: Neil S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Holden
authors.forename: Shahina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wiehler
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Proud