IL-13 induces periostin and eotaxin expression in human primary alveolar epithelial cells: Comparison with paired airway epithelial cells

PLoS One. 2018 Apr 19;13(4):e0196256. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196256. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Alveolar epithelial cells are critical to the pathogenesis of pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis, which are associated with overexpression of type 2 cytokine IL-13. IL-13 is known to induce the production of profibrotic (e.g., periostin) and pro-inflammatory (e.g., eotaxin-3) mediators in human airway epithelial cells, but it remains unclear if human primary alveolar epithelial cells increase periostin and eotaxin expression following IL-13 stimulation. The goals of this study are to determine if alveolar epithelial cells increase periostin and eotaxin expression upon IL-13 stimulation, and if alveolar and airway epithelial cells from the same subjects have similar responses to IL-13. Paired alveolar and airway epithelial cells were isolated from donors without any lung disease, and cultured under submerged or air-liquid interface conditions with or without IL-13. Up-regulation of periostin protein and mRNA was observed in IL-13-stimulated alveolar epithelial cells, which was comparable to that in IL-13-stimulated paired airway epithelial cells. IL-13 also increased eotaxin-3 expression in alveolar epithelial cells, but the level of eotaxin mRNA was lower in alveolar epithelial cells than in airway epithelial cells. Our findings demonstrate that human alveolar epithelial cells are able to produce periostin and eotaxin in responses to IL-13 stimulation. This study suggests the need to further determine the contribution of alveolar epithelial cell-derived mediators to pulmonary fibrosis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Alveolar Epithelial Cells* / cytology
  • Alveolar Epithelial Cells* / drug effects
  • Alveolar Epithelial Cells* / metabolism
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / genetics*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chemokine CCL11 / genetics*
  • Chemokine CCL11 / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells* / cytology
  • Epithelial Cells* / drug effects
  • Epithelial Cells* / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-13 / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Respiratory Mucosa* / cytology
  • Respiratory Mucosa* / drug effects
  • Respiratory Mucosa* / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects

Substances

  • CCL11 protein, human
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Chemokine CCL11
  • Interleukin-13
  • POSTN protein, human