Prakash, Y. S.

Sex and gender disparity in asthma is recognized and suggests a modulatory role for sex steroids, particularly estrogen. However, there is a dichotomous role for estrogen in airway remodeling, making it unclear whether sex hormones are protective or detrimental in asthma and suggesting a need to explore mechanisms upstream or independent of estrogen. We hypothesize that kisspeptin (Kp)/KISS1R signaling serves this role. Airway smooth muscle (ASM) is a key structural cell type that contributes to remodeling in asthma. We explored the role of Kp/KISS1R in regulating ASM proliferation. We report potentially novel data indicating that Kp and KISS1R are expressed in human airways, especially ASM, with lower expression in ASM from women compared with men and lower in patients with asthma compared with people without asthma. Proliferation studies showed that cleaved forms of Kp, particularly Kp-10, mitigated PDGF-induced ASM proliferation. Pharmacological inhibition and shRNA knockdown of KISS1R increased basal ASM proliferation, which was further amplified by PDGF. The antiproliferative effect of Kp-10 in ASM was mediated by inhibition of MAPK/ERK/Akt pathways, with altered expression of PCNA, C/EBP-α, Ki-67, cyclin D1, and cyclin E leading to cell cycle arrest at G 0 /G 1 phase. Overall, we demonstrate the importance of Kp/KISS1R signaling in regulating ASM proliferation and a potential therapeutic avenue to blunt remodeling in asthma.

Premature infants are frequently and intermittently administered supplemental oxygen during hypoxic episodes, resulting in cycles of intermittent hypoxia and hyperoxia. The relatively hypoxic in utero environment is important for lung development while hyperoxia during the neonatal period is recognized as detrimental towards the development of diseases such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia and bronchial asthma. Understanding early mechanisms that link hypoxic, hyperoxic, and intermittent hypoxic-hyperoxic exposures to altered airway structure and function are key to developing advanced therapeutic approaches in the clinic. Changes in oxygen availability can be detrimental to cellular function and contribute to oxidative damage. Here, we sought to determine the effect of oxygen on mitochondria in human fetal airway smooth muscle cells exposed to either 5% O2, 21% O2, 40% O2, or cycles of 5% and 40% O2 (intermittent hypoxia-hyperoxia). Reactive oxygen species production, altered mitochondrial morphology, and changes in mitochondrial respiration were assessed in the context of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine. Our findings show developing airway smooth muscle is differentially responsive to hypoxic, hyperoxic, or intermittent hypoxic-hyperoxic exposure in terms of mitochondrial structure and function. Cycling O2 decreased mitochondrial branching and branch length similar to hypoxia and hyperoxia in the presence of antioxidants. Additionally, hypoxia decreased overall mitochondrial respiration while the addition of antioxidants increased respiration in normoxic and O2-cycling conditions. These studies show the necessity of balancing oxidative damage and antioxidant defense systems in the developing airway.

AbstractAirway smooth muscle (ASM) cells modulate the local airway milieu via production of inflammatory mediators and growth factors including classical neurotrophins, such as brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The glial cell‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family of ligands (GFLs) are nonclassical neurotrophins and their role in the airway is barely understood. The major GFLs, GDNF and Neurturin (NRTN) bind to GDNF family receptor (GFR) α1 and α2 respectively that pair with Ret receptor to accomplish signaling. In this study, we found GDNF is expressed in human lung and increased in adult asthma, while human ASM expresses GDNF and its receptors. Accordingly, we used human ASM cells to test the hypothesis that ASM expression and autocrine signaling by GFLs regulate [Ca2+]i. Serum‐deprived ASM cells from non‐asthmatics were exposed to 10 ng/ml GDNF or NRTN for 15 min (acute) or 24 h (chronic). In fura‐2 loaded cells, acute GDNF or NRTN alone induced [Ca2+]i responses, and further enhanced responses to 1 µM ACh or 10 µM histamine. Ret inhibitor (SPP86; 10 µM) or specific GDNF chelator GFRα1‐Fc (1 µg/ml) showed roles of these receptors in GDNF effects. In contrast, NRTN did not enhance [Ca2+]i response to histamine. Furthermore, conditioned media of nonasthmatic and asthmatic ASM cells showed GDNF secretion. SPP86, Ret inhibitor and GFRα1‐Fc chelator markedly decreased [Ca2+]i response compared with vehicle, highlighting autocrine effects of secreted GDNF. Chronic GDNF treatment increased histamine‐induced myosin light chain phosphorylation. These novel data demonstrate GFLs particularly GDNF/GFRα1 influence ASM [Ca2+]i and raise the possibility that GFLs are potential targets of airway hyperresponsiveness.

Purpose Asthma prevalence has been shown higher in female as compared to male, strongly indicating the involvement of sex steroids in modulating airway hyperreactivity. Airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells are major structural cells of the airway that determine the airway tone. Our recent study demonstrated the presence of estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ) in ASM cells and that both ER's are significantly upregulated during asthma and/or inflammation with pronounced ERβ expression. We previously reported that estrogen acutely reduces agonist‐induced intracellular calcium ([Ca 2+ ] i ) levels in ASM cells. However, the role of long‐term ER signaling in regulating [Ca 2+ ] i of ASM is unknown, especially during inflammation or in asthma. Accordingly, we hypothesized that estrogen receptor isoforms have differential roles in [Ca 2+ ] i regulation in ASM cells, with enhanced functionality during inflammation. Methods Human ASM cells were enzymatically dissociated from tissues obtained incidental to lung surgery (Mayo Clinic). Asthmatic and non‐asthmatic ASM cells were exposed to pro‐inflammatory cytokines TNFα (20ng/ml) or IL‐13 (50ng/ml) in the presence or absence of 17β‐estradiol (E 2 ), various ERα (PPT, THC) or ERβ (WAY, FERB, DPN) agonists and antagonists (MPP,PHTPP) for 24h. Cells were incubated with calcium indicator dye Fura‐2 AM and [Ca 2+ ] i responses in these cells were measured using various bronchoconstrictors such as bradykinin (BK,10nM), acetylcholine (Ach,1μM), histamine (His,10μM) and KCl (100μM) under Olympus epifluorescence imaging system. Results In both asthmatic and non‐asthmatic human ASM cells, ERβ agonists reduced [Ca 2+ ] i response to BK, His, Ach as compared to vehicle. Conversely E 2 and ERα agonists showed no change or a slight increase in [Ca 2+ ] i response compared to vehicle. The effectiveness of ERβ in reducing the [Ca 2+ ] i in human ASM cells was further confirmed by ERβ siRNA and ERβ overexpression studies. In the presence of inflammation induced by TNFα or IL‐13, ERβ agonists significantly reduced [Ca 2+ ] i response, while E 2 and ERα agonists did not draw out any notable changes. To understand the mechanistic basis of the ER specific signaling in [Ca 2+ ] i regulation, we measured L‐type calcium channel activity (using L‐type channel blocker nifedipine, 1μM) with KCl. ERβ agonist reduced KCl induced [Ca 2+ ] i increase, which was comparable to the effect of nifedipine. [Ca 2+ ] i reuptake pump (SERCA) which sequesters the cytosolic calcium into sarcoplasmic reticulum showed increased expression and activity in ASM cells with ERβ activation during inflammation. Conclusion Overall, our data highlights the presence of divergent ER signaling in [Ca 2+ ] i handling in ASM. Specifically ERβ activation is more effective in reducing [Ca 2+ ] i during inflammation, through both L‐type channel inhibition and increased SERCA activity. These varied signaling mechanisms could play a crucial role in smooth muscle contractility and tone in asthma. Support or Funding Information Supported by NIH grants R01 HL123494 (Venkatachalem), and R01 HL088029 (Prakash). This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .

Background The pathophysiology of asthma involves inflammation and altered structure and function of airway smooth muscle (ASM). There is emerging evidence that asthma affects adult women disproportionately with more severity than men. Also, our recent findings suggest that differential estrogen receptors (ER), ERα and ERβ expression and function are present in asthmatic ASM cells. Due to high oxygen environment in the lungs and the presence of inflammation, asthmatic ASM cells undergo oxidative stress. Mitochondrial dysfunction due to this oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the bioenergetics pathways involved in asthma. In this study, we hypothesize that differential ER signaling affects mitochondrial dynamics (fission/fusion) in ASM, which subsequently affects reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and intracellular Ca 2+ ([Ca 2+ ] i ) buffering capacity of mitochondria. Methods Human ASM cells were enzymatically dissociated from lung samples of non‐asthmatics undergoing thoracic surgery at Mayo Clinic. Cells were grown onto 8‐well labtek plates and treated with pro‐inflammatory cytokine, TNFα (20 mg/mL) in the presence or absence of 1 nM 17β‐estradiol (E 2 ) which is a nonselective ER agonist, 10 nM PPT (ERα agonist) or 10 nM WAY (ERβ agonist) for 24h. For morphology studies, the cells were loaded with Mitotracker Green and then imaged on the Bio‐Tek Lionheart FX Live Cell Imager. Form factor and aspect ratio are used as parameters for determining fission vs fusion in mitochondria and these were calculated using MATLAB. Western blot and qPCR techniques were performed to access the protein and gene expression of the fission and fusion proteins Dynamin Related Protein1 (Drp1) and Mitofusion2 (Mfn2). ROS measurement was performed by loading cells with MitoSOX Red and their fluorescence intensity was recorded on the Live Cell Imager. Results In mitotracker loaded ASM cells, ERβ agonist WAY was effective in increasing the form factor and aspect ratio as compared to vehicle. In addition, ERβ was effective in reducing TNFα induced reduction in form factor and aspect ratio. However, both E 2 and ERα agonist, PPT, did not show any changes in form factor and aspect ratio of TNFα exposed ASM cells. Western analysis and gene expression studies showed higher expression of Drp1 and lower expression of Mfn2 in TNFα treated cells. Pre‐treatment with ERβ‐agonist reversed the altered expression of Drp1 and Mfn2 in TNFα treated cells. Using MitoSOX Red, it was observed that ERβ agonist WAY treated cells showed lower ROS generation as compared to TNFα. Conclusion Our data suggests a novel estrogen signaling in ASM cells for maintaining the structure of mitochondria. ERβ is effective in ameliorating the inflammation due to TNFα and hence preserves the morphology of mitochondria during inflammation. Further studies will confirm the subsequent alterations in mitochondrial ROS generation and [Ca 2+ ] i buffering capacity due to this altered mitochondrial morphology. Support or Funding Information Supported by the UGSRF fellowship by APS (Jesme) and NIH grants R01 HL123494, (Venkatachalem), and R01 HL 088029 (Prakash) This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .

Neurotrophins are growth factors traditionally associated with neuronal structure and function; however, neurotrophins and their receptors have been found throughout the lung, including airway, pulmonary artery and endothelium although their roles within the lung are still under investigation. We tested the hypothesis that brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) enhances pulmonary artery constriction. In endothelium‐intact arterial rings, BDNF (acute 10nM, 1h; chronic 1nM, 18h) did not affect phenylephrine‐induced contraction, but enhanced subsequent ACh‐induced relaxation. These effects were blunted by endothelium‐denudation. In fura‐2 loaded human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells, acute and chronic BDNF decreased the Ca 2+ responses to 10 μM bradykinin. In human pulmonary artery exposed to TNFα (50 ng/mL, 18h), BDNF levels were decreased, compared to human airway, where previous studies under identical treatment resulted in increased levels. These data refute our hypothesis and suggest that neurotrophins, working via endothelial cells, enhance vasodilation in the pulmonary vasculature. Supported by FAMRI, NIH grant UL1RR024150, and the Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic.