title: Superoxide dismutase reduces the inflammatory response to Aspergillus and Alternaria in human sinonasal epithelial cells derived from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aspergillus fumigatus and Alternaria alternata are ubiquitous environmental fungal allergens that can exacerbate airway inflammation and contribute to the disease process in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). These antigens have been shown to induce human sinonasal epithelial cells (HSNECs) to promote a proinflammatory response, but what is unclear is a means by which to reduce these effects. Inhaled pathogens can induce HSNECs to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) that trigger cytokine production.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine whether the free radical scavenger superoxide dismutase (SOD) could reduce HSNEC-derived inflammation, as measured by interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 production, in response to Aspergillus or Alternaria exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sinus tissue explants were collected at the time of surgery from control patients (n = 7) and patients with CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) (n = 9). HSNECs were cultured from the explants and treated with Aspergillus, Alternaria, and SOD for 24 hours. Cell supernatants and lysates were collected, and IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In control and CRSwNP HSNECs, Aspergillus and Alternaria both increased cytokine production (p < 0.05), as measured by IL-6 and IL-8 concentration. SOD treatment reduced the inflammatory response to fungal antigen exposure from CRSwNP HSNECs but not control HSNECs. In CRSwNP patients, SOD significantly decreased IL-6 and IL-8 production after Alternaria exposure and IL-8 after Aspergillus exposure (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When HSNECs from CRSwNP patients are treated with SOD concurrently with Aspergillus or Alternaria, SOD treatment decreases the fungal antigen-induced inflammatory response. The ability to attenuate inflammation induced by common fungal allergens with SOD treatment could provide a novel therapeutic or preventative approach for patients with CRS or other allergic inflammatory airway diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: Jennifer K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Mulligan
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roach
authors.forename: Whitney N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Pasquini
authors.forename: Zachary M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Soler
authors.forename: Sarfaraz M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Banglawala
authors.forename: Tom T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Karnezis
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Gudis
authors.forename: Rodney J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Schlosser
mesh_terms: D000528:Alternaria / Q000276:immunology*; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000601:surgery*; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000601:surgery*; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000601:surgery*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase