Maniak, Peter J.

Exposure of human bronchial epithelial cells (hBECs) and mouse airways to allergens from the fungus Alternaria alternata triggers the release of alarmin signaling molecules including ATP, IL-33 and DNA fragments. The goal of this study was to determine the mechanisms that regulate release of genomic DNA fragments and how extracellular DNA (eDNA) contributes to type 2 immunity. Treatment of hBECs with Alternaria extract induces oxidative stress, which leads to ATP release and uptake of Ca2+ following activation of P2X receptors. DNA release was dependent on a sustained increase in intracellular [Ca2+], which stimulates cleavage of caspase 3 by the proprotein convertase enzyme furin, resulting in activation of caspase 3 and ultimately nuclear DNA fragmentation as shown in comet assays. Some of the fragmented DNA was released into the media under conditions where barrier function of the epithelium was maintained, and nuclear and plasma membranes remained intact. Alternaria-induced DNA release was detected within 30 minutes following exposure, reached its peak at 4 hours and ceased after 12 hours. Pretreatment of hBECs with a calpain inhibitor resulted in continued DNA release and loss of cell viability by 24 hours. This result suggested that calpain activity contributed to termination of Alternaria-evoked DNA release. In mice, intranasal administration of Alternaria extract produced release of DNA fragments into bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid over a similar time course as observed in hBECs. In caspase 3 deficient mice however, DNA release into BAL fluid was significantly reduced. Furthermore, Alternaria-induced type 2 immune responses were suppressed following pretreatment with a DNA scavenger. Conversely, intranasal administration of mouse genomic DNA with Alternaria amplified IL-5 and IL-13 secretion into BAL fluid while DNA alone had no effect. These findings indicate that DNA release from the airway epithelium is a regulated process involving noncanonical activation of caspase 3 to produce DNA fragmentation and calpain activity, which appears to be essential for the termination of DNA release. Moreover in airways, eDNA appears to function as a secondary alarmin that acts on immune cells to enhance type 2 immunity. This work was supported by grants from the NIH (AI128729 and AI169530) to HK and SMO. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Polyethyleneimine (PEI) induced immune responses were investigated in human bronchial epithelial (hBE) cells and mice. PEI rapidly induced ATP release from hBE cells and pretreatment with glutathione (GSH) blocked the response. PEI activated two conductive pathways, VDAC-1 and pannexin 1, which completely accounted for ATP efflux across the plasma membrane. Moreover, PEI increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), which was reduced by the pannexin 1 inhibitor, 10Panx (50 μM), the VDAC-1 inhibitor, DIDS (100 μM), and was nearly abolished by pretreatment with GSH (5 mM). The increase in [Ca2+]i involved Ca2+ uptake through two pathways, one blocked by oxidized ATP (oATP, 300 μM) and another that was blocked by the TRPV-1 antagonist A784168 (100 nM). PEI stimulation also increased IL-33 mRNA expression and protein secretion. In vivo experiments showed that acute (4.5 h) PEI exposure stimulated secretion of Th2 cytokines (IL-5 and IL-13) into bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Conjugation of PEI with ovalbumin also induced eosinophil recruitment and secretion of IL-5 and IL-13 into BAL fluid, which was inhibited in IL-33 receptor (ST2) deficient mice. In conclusion, PEI-induced oxidative stress stimulated type 2 immune responses by activating ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake leading to IL-33 secretion, similar to allergens derived from Alternaria.

Previous studies have demonstrated that simvastatin possesses immunomodulatory effects in airways, but the precise mechanisms and therapeutic potential are poorly understood. The objective of the present study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of simvastatin and b‐methyl‐cyclodextrin (β‐MCD) on the innate immune response of the airway epithelium induced by Alternaria alternata (100 μg/ml) and house dust mite (200 μg/ml, HDM) allergens. Experiments were performed with cultured human bronchial epithelial cells transfected with the human IL‐33 gene to produce a robust and reproducible cell model for the study of IL‐33 secretion. Cells were pretreated with varying concentrations of simvastatin ranging from 0.1 to 10 μM for 24 hours prior to allergen exposure. IL‐33 release was quantified by ELISA (Quantikine ® ) following the procedure provided by the manufacturer. Simvastatin produced a concentration‐dependent inhibition of IL‐33 release that was nearly abolished at 10 μM (IC 50 ; 1.0 μM). In contrast, simvastatin was ineffective at blocking the effects of HDM on IL‐33 release (IC 50 ; >10 μM). Similarly, pretreatment with β‐MCD (5 mM) for 30 minutes also inhibited the Alternaria response, suggesting that depletion of cholesterol from the plasma membrane was responsible for the effects of simvastatin and β‐MCD. Subsequent experiments explored the effects of simvastatin and β‐MCD on Alternaria ‐evoked Ca 2+ uptake, which is necessary for activating IL‐33 release. Simvastatin (10 μM, 24 hrs) and β‐MCD (5 mM; 30 minutes) both abolished the increase in [Ca 2+ ] i induced by Alternaria . We next examined the possibility that abolition of Ca 2+ uptake resulted from inhibition of ATP release, since ATP activates P2X 7 receptors that mediate Ca 2+ influx in response to Alternaria exposure. ATP release was measured in real time using a luciferin/luciferase‐based photon counting assay. Both simvastatin and β‐MCD blocked ATP release. Moreover, addition of 100 μM cholesterol to the extracellular media rescued the effects of simvastatin. These results demonstrated that inhibition of IL‐33 secretion by simvastatin and β‐MCD following Alternaria exposure involved suppression of ATP release that was dependent on membrane cholesterol content. Thus, membrane cholesterol likely plays a pivotal role in innate immune function of airway epithelial cells. Support or Funding Information This study was supported by NIH R01 AI128729 to HK and SMO. This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .

The AML14 cell line and its AML14.3D10 subclone was established as a model cell system that exhibits phenotypic characteristics similar to that of human eosinophils. We investigated the effects of purinergic receptor stimulation on the physiological response of the AML 14.3D10 cell line to better evaluate its role as a suitable model for eosinophils using both molecular and functional approaches. Ca 2+ imaging experiments using Fura‐2 demonstrated the existence of purinergic receptors responsive to UTP (EC 50 of 8.9 x 10 −8 ), ATP γ‐s (EC 50 of 1.87 x 10 −7 ), and UDP (EC 50 of 7.44x 10 −6 ). Molecular identification of the purinergic receptor subtypes was confirmed by QRT‐PCR which demonstrated the presence of P2Y 1 , P2Y 2 , P2Y 4 , and P2Y 6 receptors. Ratio imaging experiments using the membrane potential sensitive indicator DiBAC‐3 showed that stimulation with UTP produced a membrane hyperpolarization of approximately 10 mV that returned to the original resting potential within 10 minutes after stimulation. Whole cell perforated patch clamp experiments using amphotericin B revealed the presence of voltage‐gated potassium channel currents that were stimulated following treatment with UTP. Analysis of mRNA by QRT‐PCR indicated the existence of several voltage‐gated potassium channel α subunits including, Kv1.2, Kv1.3, Kv1.4, and Kv1.6. Previous studies of Kv1.3 channel function in T‐lymphocytes showed that the channel was involved in activation and proliferation, suggesting the possibility of a similar role related to tumorogenesis in the AML 14.3D10 cell line.

Alternaria aeroallergens stimulate allergic inflammation and exacerbation of respiratory distress in patients with asthma. Our previous studies have demonstrated that release of ATP and subsequent increases in intracellular [Ca 2+ ] was the result of Alternaria induced oxidative stress. Stimulation of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells (HBECs) with Alternaria extract for 12 hours induced the expression of several phase II antioxidant enzymes, including cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) which exhibited a 19 fold increase in mRNA expression. HBE cells loaded with CellRox™ Orange, a fluorogenic probe used for detecting oxidative stress, revealed that blocking COX2 inhibited resveratrol mediated inhibition of Alternaria induced oxidative stress. Furthermore induction of COX2 following Alternaria exposure was associated with an increase in expression of prostaglandin D 2 synthase and PGD 2 secretion into the extracellular media. Moreover, 15‐deoxy Δ 12,14 ‐protaglandin J 2 (15d‐PGJ 2 ) a metabolic product of PGD 2 was also shown to decrease Alternaria induced oxidative stress. These results suggest that upregulation of COX2 following sustained exposure to Alternaria induces PGD 2 synthesis and subsequent formation of 15d‐PGJ 2 , a known activator of Nrf2 signaling and ultimately, increased expression of phase II antioxidant enzymes.

Exposure of human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells from normal and asthmatic subjects to Alternaria alternata extract evoked rapid and sustained ATP release with greater efficacy observed in cells from asthmatic subjects. Previously, Alternaria aeroallergens were shown to elicit sustained increases in intracellular [Ca 2+ ] i that depended on coordinated activation of P2Y 2 and P2X 7 receptors. In this study, pretreatment with BAPTA‐AM inhibited ATP release, indicating dependency on increases in [Ca 2+ ] i . Alternaria ‐evoked ATP release exhibited a greater peak response and higher EC 50 value in cells obtained from asthmatic subjects compared to normal controls. Furthermore, the maximum increase in [Ca 2+ ] i was greater in cells from asthmatic subjects. The vesicle transport inhibitor brefeldin A blocked Alternaria ‐stimulated incorporation of fluorescent lipid (FM1–43) labeled vesicles into the plasma membrane and ATP release. Additionally, inhibiting vesicular ATP uptake with bafilomycin also blocked ATP release similar to brefeldin A. These results indicated that a primary mechanism for Alternaria ‐induced ATP release involved Ca 2+ ‐dependent vesicular transport. Serine and cysteine protease inhibitors also reduced Alternaria ‐induced ATP release. This result was consistent with our previous data showing that Alternaria ‐evoked increases in [Ca 2+ ] i depend on purinoceptor signaling.

Alternaria aeroallergens have been previously shown to stimulate allergic inflammation and exacerbation of respiratory distress in patients with asthma. An early event following exposure to Alternaria extract is the sustained release of ATP and a persistent increase in intracellular [Ca 2+ ] ([Ca 2+ ] i ) resulting from uptake of Ca 2+ ions from the extracellular solution. In the present study we tested the hyopothesis that the release of ATP and the subsequent increase in [Ca 2+ ] i was due to oxidative stress induced by exposure to Alternaria . ATP release following apical stimulation with Alternaria was measured in human primary bronchial epithelial cells using a luciferase/luciferin ATP measurement kit in combination with a modified luminometer that allows for tracking ATP release in real time. Pretreatment with glutathione (GSH) produced a concentration‐dependent inhibition of ATP release with an EC 50 = 500 μM. Furthermore, GSH blocked the increase in [Ca 2+ ] i typically observed following apical exposure to Alternaria. Moreover an increase in the expression of specific antioxidant protein mRNAs was also observed after 12 hours of treatment with Alternaria extract. These proteins included peroxiredoxins 1‐6, keratin 1, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) and oxidative stress responsive 1 protein with COX2 having the highest level of expression (~20 fold). These results implicate oxidative stress as an important initiating event in Alternaria evoked airway inflammation. Grant Funding Source : Supported by NIH: HL110539

Aeroallergens produced by Alternaria alternata have been shown to induce life threatening exacerbations of airway inflammation in sensitized patients with severe asthma. Inflammation produced by Alternaria is associated with ATP release and purinergic receptor activation. In the present study the effects of Alternaria on signaling pathways and ion transport mechanisms associated with mucociliary clearance were investigated in an immortalized human bronchial epithelial cell line (16HBE14o ‐ cells). Cells were grown on Snapwell TM membrane filters until a stable transepithelial resistance (>500 Ω) was established. Cell monolayers were then voltage clamped at zero mV and apically stimulated with 50 μM Alternaria extract to induce a time‐dependent increase in short circuit current (Isc) consistent with anion secretion. Treatment with the CFTR channel blocker, CFTR inh ‐172 significantly reduced the Isc by ~25%. Furthermore, addition of the disulfonic stilbene compound DIDS (250 μM) abolished the Isc response. Measurements of the effect of Alternaria on intracellular Ca 2+ concentration ([Ca 2+ ] i ) showed that the extract caused a persistent increase in [Ca 2+ ] i that was blocked by chelating extracellular Ca 2+ with EGTA. Pretreatment with 250 μM DIDS also abrogated the effects of Alternaria on [Ca 2+ ] i but did not affect the increase in [Ca 2+ ] i produced by 4 μM ionomycin. Similarly, pretreatment of monolayers with glutathione also blocked the Alternaria induced increase in [Ca 2+ ] i . These results indicate that Alternaria aeroallergens are capable of stimulating CFTR and Ca 2+ ‐dependent anion secretion. Moreover, the increase in [Ca 2+ ] i appears to involve a DIDS‐sensitive uptake mechanism that is blocked when oxidant scavenger molecules are present in the extracellular solution. Grant Funding Source : Supported by NIH: HL110539

Allergens derived from the common fungus Alternaria alternata induce oxidative stress in human airway epithelial (HBE) cells that leads to the regulated release of ATP and subsequent activation of P2X 7 receptors that facilitate Ca 2+ uptake into the cell. Sustained increases in [Ca 2+ ] i are required for nuclear processing and secretion of IL‐33, which initiates allergic inflammation by activating ST2 receptors on immune cells to induce Th2 cytokine secretion. Pretreatment of HBE cells with the K2P channel blockers bupivacaine or quinidine produced a significant increase in ATP release following Alternaria stimulation. This response was blocked by inhibiting ATP loading into membrane vesicles by treatment with 200 nM bafilomycin A 1 before allergen exposure. Similarly, pretreatment with the PKC inhibitor Go6976 also blocked approximately 50% of Alternaria ‐induced ATP release and completely abolished the increase in ATP release produced by pretreatment with K2P channel blockers. The effects of bupivacaine and quinidine were comparable to the effect of phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA, 2 mM), a well‐characterized PKC activating compound prior to Alternaria stimulation. These results support the conclusion that K2P channel inhibition is associated with PKC activation, which functions to potentiate the effects of Alternaria allergens on vesicular ATP release. We propose that enhanced PKC activity is dependent on membrane depolarization associated with inhibition of constitutive, K2P channel mediated K + efflux from these cells. Support or Funding Information This study was supported by grants from the NIH (R01‐AI128729), awarded to HK and SMO and from the Minnesota Agriculture Experiment Station (AES‐0016097) awarded to SMO.

Key points Alternaria aeroallergens induce the release of ATP from human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells by activating a conductive pathway involving voltage‐dependent anion channel‐1 (VDAC‐1) and by exocytosis of ATP localized within membrane vesicles. Inhibition of VDAC‐1 blocked Alternaria‐evoked Ca2+ uptake across the plasma membrane of HBE cells and interleukin (IL)‐33 release into the extracellular media. Reducing cholesterol content with a cholesterol scavenger (β‐methylcyclodextrin) or statin compound (simvastatin) blocked ATP and IL‐33 release by lowering the expression of VDAC‐1 in the plasma membrane. Pretreatment with simvastatin for 24 h also inhibited the increase in tight junction macromolecule permeability that occurs following Alternaria exposure. These results establish a novel role for VDAC‐1 as a mechanism underlying ATP release induced by fungal allergens and suggests a possible therapeutic use for cholesterol lowering compounds in reducing Alternaria‐stimulated allergic inflammation. AbstractHuman bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells exposed to allergens derived from the common saprophytic fungus, Alternaria alternata release ATP, which in turn stimulates P2X7 receptor‐mediated Ca2+ uptake across the plasma membrane. The subsequent increase in intracellular calcium concentration induces proteolytic processing and secretion of interleukin (IL)‐33, a critical cytokine involved in the initiation of allergic airway inflammation. A major objective of the present study was to identify the mechanism responsible for conductive ATP release. The results show that pretreatment of HBE cells with inhibitors of the voltage‐dependent anion channel‐1 (VDAC‐1) or treatment with a VDAC‐1 selective blocking antibody or silencing mRNA expression of the channel by RNA interference, inhibit Alternaria‐evoked ATP release. Moreover, inhibition of VDAC‐1 channel activity or reducing protein expression blocked the secretion of IL‐33. Similarly, reducing the cholesterol content of HBE cells with simvastatin or the cholesterol scavenger β‐methylcyclodextrin also blocked ATP release and IL‐33 secretion by decreasing the level of VDAC‐1 expression in the plasma membrane. In addition, simvastatin inhibited the increase in tight junction macromolecule permeability that was previously observed after Alternaria exposure. These results demonstrate a novel function for VDAC‐1 as the conductive mechanism responsible for Alternaria‐induced ATP release, an essential early step in the processing, mobilization and secretion of IL‐33 by the airway epithelium. Furthermore, the simvastatin‐evoked reduction of VDAC‐1 expression in the plasma membrane, suggests the possibility that cholesterol lowering compounds may be beneficial in alleviating allergic airway inflammation induced by fungal allergens.