title: Th2 responses elicited by nasal epithelial cells exposed to house dust mite extract.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Respiratory epithelial cells are the first site of interaction of allergens with the immune system. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of epithelial cells, which were stimulated with house dust mite (HDM) extracts, on the immune response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary nasal polyp epithelial cells were exposed to dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and dermatophagoides farina for 48 hr, and then the supernatant and cells were collected. After stimulation with HDM extract, the epithelial cells were co-cultured with PBMCs for 72 hr and then the supernatant was collected. We measured the interleukin (IL)-8 and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor to determine the activation of the epithelial cells. The tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IL-5 and interferon-gamma were measured to evaluate the interaction between the epithelial cells and the PBMCs. The mRNA expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) was assessed using the anti-ICAM-1 antibody.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HDM extracts activated the nasal epithelial cells and enhanced the expression of ICAM-1 mRNA and cell membrane ICAM-1. When the activated epithelial cells were co-cultured with PBMCs, the PBMCs produced lager amounts of TNF-alpha and IL-5. However the cytokine production was not inhibited by pretreatment with ICAM-1 antibody.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HDM allergens induce allergic inflammation by activating nasal epithelial cells, yet the interaction of the epitheila cells and the PBMCs may not be associated with an ICAM-1 medicated mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Heon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Mi-Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ye