Human mesenchymal stem cells suppress the stretch-induced inflammatory miR-155 and cytokines in bronchial epithelial cells

PLoS One. 2013 Aug 13;8(8):e71342. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071342. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Current research in pulmonary pathology has focused on inflammatory reactions initiated by immunological responses to allergens and irritants. In addition to these biochemical stimuli, physical forces also play an important role in regulating the structure, function, and metabolism of the lung. Hyperstretch of lung tissues can contribute to the inflammatory responses in asthma, but the mechanisms of mechanically induced inflammation in the lung remain unclear. Our results demonstrate that excessive stretch increased the secretion of inflammatory cytokines by human bronchial epithelial cells (hBECs), including IL-8. This increase of IL-8 secretion was due to an elevated microRNA-155 (miR-155) expression, which caused the suppression of Src homology 2 domain-containing inositol 5-phosphatase 1 (SHIP1) production and the subsequent activation of JNK signaling. In vivo studies in our asthmatic mouse model also showed such changes in miR-155, IL-8, and SHIP1 expressions that reflect inflammatory responses. Co-culture with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) reversed the stretch-induced hBEC inflammatory responses as a result of IL-10 secretion by hMSCs to down-regulate miR-155 expression in hBECs. In summary, we have demonstrated that mechanical stretch modulates the homeostasis of the hBEC secretome involving miR-155 and that hMSCs can be used as a potential therapeutic approach to reverse bronchial epithelial inflammation in asthma.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Asthma / chemically induced
  • Asthma / metabolism
  • Bronchi / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism*
  • Inositol Polyphosphate 5-Phosphatases
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lung / pathology
  • Mechanical Phenomena
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Ovalbumin / adverse effects
  • Paracrine Communication
  • Phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-Trisphosphate 5-Phosphatases
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / genetics
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Respiratory Mucosa / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • MIRN155 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Ovalbumin
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases
  • Inositol Polyphosphate 5-Phosphatases
  • INPP5D protein, human
  • Inpp5d protein, mouse
  • Phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-Trisphosphate 5-Phosphatases