title: Non-proteolytic aeroallergens from mites, cat and dog exert adjuvant-like activation of bronchial epithelial cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exposure to seasonal or indoor allergens may cause sensitisation and development of allergic airway diseases. We have previously demonstrated that the non-proteolytic major house dust mite (HDM) allergen Der p 2 stimulates pro-inflammatory responses in bronchial epithelial cells. We aimed to determine if other clinically relevant non-proteolytic aeroallergens originating from HDMs, storage mites, cat, dog, birch and timothy also activate respiratory epithelial cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cultures of human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B, normal human bronchial epithelial cells and alveolar epithelial cell line A549 were exposed to recombinant (r)Der p 2, natural (n)Der f 2, rEur m 2, rLep d 2, rFel d 1, nFel d 1, rCan f 2, rBet v 1 or rPhl p 5a. A panel of secreted mediators and expression of cell adhesion receptors involved in recruitment, survival and adhesion of inflammatory cells in asthmatic airways was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mite allergens rDer p 2, nDer f 2, rEur m 2 and rLep d 2 as well as the cat and dog allergens rFel d 1, nFel d 1 and rCan f 2 induced granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, monocyte-chemotactic protein-1 and macrophage inflammatory protein-3α secretion from bronchial epithelial cells as well as surface expression of intracellular adhesion molecule-1. The pollen allergens rBet v 1 and rPhl p 5a from birch and timothy did not activate the cells. None of the studied allergens affected the alveolar epithelial cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show that both mite and structurally unrelated cat and dog allergens can activate respiratory epithelial cells by adjuvant-like protease-independent mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. camilla.osterlund@foi.se
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Osterlund
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Grönlund
authors.forename: Guro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gafvelin
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bucht
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D029662:Betula / Q000276:immunology; D002415:Cats / Q000276:immunology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology; D004285:Dogs / Q000276:immunology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D031784:Phleum / Q000276:immunology; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000485:Allergens; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases