Tumor necrosis factor- regulates interleukin-33 expression through extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p38, and nuclear factor-B pathways in airway epithelial cells

Abstract

BackgroundInterleukin (IL)-33 plays an important role in controlling immune responses in barrier tissues, and is a potent mediator of inflammatory diseases such as asthma, rheumatoid disease, and chronic rhinosinusitis. The aims of the present study were 2-fold: (1) to determine the stimulatory effect of tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) on IL-33 production in nasal epithelial and A549 cells; and (2) to identify downstream pathways that activate IL-33 production. MethodsPrimary nasal epithelial cells (PNECs) from 5 normal patients were isolated and cultured. To identify which cytokines stimulate IL-33 production, we performed reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and immunofluorescence staining. Three mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) (p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase [ERK], and c-Jun N-terminal kinase [JNK]) and nuclear factor B (NF-B) were evaluated as downstream signaling molecules by RT-PCR, ELISA, Western blot analysis, and luciferase reporter assay. ResultsThe IL-33 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels were increased significantly by TNF- in PNECs and A549 cells. TNF- stimulated the expression of IL-33 in a dose- and time-dependent manner in A549 cells. PNECs and A549 cells were treated with TNF- in the presence of specific inhibitors of p38, ERK, JNK, and NF-B. In both cell types, inhibitors of ERK, p38, and NF-B reversed TNF--induced IL-33 production. In the luciferase reporter assay, NF-B activity was inhibited not only by an NF-B inhibitor, but also by ERK and p38 inhibitors. ConclusionTNF- stimulated IL-33 expression through ERK, p38, and NFB pathways in PNECs and A549 cells.