Fungal allergen beta-glucans trigger p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase-mediated IL-6 translation in lung epithelial cells
Authors
Neveu, Wendy A.Bernardo, Edgar
Allard, Jenna L.
Nagaleekar, Viswas
Wargo, Matthew J.
Davis, Roger J.
Iwakura, Yoichiro
Whittaker, Laurie A.
Rincon, Mercedes
UMass Chan Affiliations
Program in Molecular MedicineDocument Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2011-12-01Keywords
AllergensAnimals
Aspergillus fumigatus
Asthma
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
Cells, Cultured
Epithelial Cells
Gene Expression Regulation
Interleukin-6
Lung
MAP Kinase Signaling System
Mice
Mice, Knockout
Respiratory Mucosa
beta-Glucans
p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
Biochemistry
Cell Biology
Cellular and Molecular Physiology
Immunity
Molecular Biology
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
In addition to immune cells, airway epithelial cells can contribute to and shape the immune response in the lung by secreting specific cytokines. IL-6 is a key factor in determining the effector fate of CD4(+) T cells. Here we show that under basal conditions, the IL-6 gene is already highly expressed in lung epithelial cells, but not in immune cells resident in the lung. However, upon exposure of the lungs to fungal allergens, the direct contact of beta-glucans present in the fungus cell wall with lung epithelial cells is sufficient to trigger the rapid synthesis and secretion of IL-6 protein. This posttranscriptional regulation of IL-6 in response to fungal extracts is mediated by the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. The inhalation of beta-glucans with a nonallergenic antigen is sufficient to provide an adjuvant effect that leads to mucous hyperplasia in the airways. Thus, beta-glucans may constitute a common determinant of the fungal and plant-derived allergens responsible for some of the pathological features in allergic asthma.Source
Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2011 Dec;45(6):1133-41. doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2011-0054OC. Epub 2011 Jun 3. Link to article on publisher's siteDOI
10.1165/rcmb.2011-0054OCPermanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/28308PubMed ID
21642586Related Resources
Link to Article in PubMedae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1165/rcmb.2011-0054OC