Allergens stimulate store-operated calcium entry and cytokine production in airway epithelial cells.
Aberrant immune responses to environmental allergens including insect allergens from house dust mites and cockroaches contribute to allergic inflammatory diseases such as asthma in susceptible individuals. Airway epithelial cells (AECs) play a critical role in this process by sensing the proteolytic activity of allergens via protease-activated receptors (PAR2) to initiate inflammatory and immune responses in the airway. Elevation of cytosolic Ca(2+) is an important signaling event in this process, yet the fundamental mechanism by which allergens induce Ca(2+) elevations in AECs remains poorly understood. Here we find that extracts from dust mite and cockroach induce sustained Ca(2+) elevations in AECs through the activation of Ca(2+) release-activated Ca(2+) (CRAC) channels encoded by Orai1 and STIM1. CRAC channel activation occurs, at least in part, through allergen mediated stimulation of PAR2 receptors. The ensuing Ca(2+) entry then activates NFAT/calcineurin signaling to induce transcriptional production of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8. These findings highlight a key role for CRAC channels as regulators of allergen induced inflammatory responses in the airway.
Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, IL 60611, Chicago, USA.
Amit
A
Jairaman
Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, IL 60611, Chicago, USA.
Chelsea H
CH
Maguire
Division of Allergy-Immunology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, IL 60611, Chicago, USA.
Robert P
RP
Schleimer
Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, IL 60611, Chicago, USA.
Murali
M
Prakriya
D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001980:Bronchi / Q000166:cytology; D019703:Calcineurin / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071739:Calcium Release Activated Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
D000485:Allergens; D000071739:Calcium Release Activated Calcium Channels; D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D019703:Calcineurin; D002118:Calcium