House dust mite allergen Der f 2 induces interleukin-13 expression by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway

Immunol Res. 2013 May;56(1):181-8. doi: 10.1007/s12026-013-8392-0.

Abstract

House dust mites (HDMs) are a common cause of allergic asthma. The group 2 allergen from Dermatophagoides farinae, Der f 2, is one of the major HDM allergens. Elevated Der f 2 immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels are observed in most of the allergic patients. Interleukin-13 (IL-13), a gene associated with asthma pathology, was induced by Der f 2 in BEAS-2B human airway epithelial cells; however, the signaling pathways associated with Der f 2 are not fully understood. In this study, we identified a role of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, a well-known potential target for anti-asthma drugs, in the IL-13 induction by Der f 2. First, Der f 2 activated the PI3K/Akt pathway, which subsequently activated the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway and induced IL-13 expression in BEAS-2B cells. Treatment with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 abolished Der f 2-induced activation of Akt and NF-κB and the expression of IL-13. Furthermore, Der f 2-induced activation of the PI3K/Akt and NF-κB pathways, expression of IL-13, and the blockade of these effects with a PI3K inhibitor were confirmed in the lungs of mice that were intranasally exposed to Der f 2. Taken together, these results indicate that the PI3K/Akt pathway regulates Der f 2-induced IL-13 expression via activation of the NF-κB pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Dermatophagoides / immunology*
  • Arthropod Proteins / immunology*
  • Asthma / immunology*
  • Cell Line
  • Gene Expression Regulation / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin E / blood
  • Interleukin-13 / genetics
  • Interleukin-13 / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Oncogene Protein v-akt / metabolism
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism*
  • Pyroglyphidae / immunology
  • Respiratory Mucosa / immunology*
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • Transcriptional Activation / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens, Dermatophagoides
  • Arthropod Proteins
  • Dermatophagoides farinae antigen f 2
  • Interleukin-13
  • NF-kappa B
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Oncogene Protein v-akt