Background: The mechanisms underlying epithelial cell activation by indoor inhaled antigens are poorly understood. Methods: In this study, we investigated the role of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in A549 epithelial cells upon exposure to antigens of house dust mite (HDMA), German cockroach (GCA), and American cockroach (ACA). Results: Each of these antigens induced a significant increase in IL-8 levels compared to the medium control. Exposure of A549 cells to these antigens induced the phosphorylation of p44/42 MAPKs within 5 minutes, which reached a peak at 25 minutes later and reached baseline levels at 1 hour after exposure. PD98059, a MEK1 inhibitor, significantly decreased phosphorylation of p44/p42 MAPKs and IL-8 production. Exposure of A549 cells with antigens, which had been preincubated with different protease inhibitors, also resulted in a reduction of both MAPK phosphorylation and IL-8 production. Conclusion: Thus, proteolytic antigens present in HDMA, GCA and ACA activate the p44/42 MAPKs airway epithelial cells, which lead to elevated IL-8 production and initiation of the inflammatory cascade. © 2003 Kuderer et all; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
CITATION STYLE
Kuderer, N. M., San-Juan-Vergara, H. G., Kong, X., Esch, R., Lockey, R. F., & Mohapatra, S. S. (2003). Mite and cockroach proteases activate p44/p42 MAP kinases in human lung epithelial cells. Clinical and Molecular Allergy, 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-7961-1-1
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