J Rhinol.  2007 Nov;14(2):100-105.

IL-1beta Induces Lysozyme Overexpression through a Mechanism Involving ERK/p38 Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase Activation in Human Airway Epithelial Cells

• Kim YS
• Yang WS
• Moon UY
• Lee JG
• Yoon JH

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Lysozyme, a major serous component of airway epithelial secretions, plays an important role in airway defense. However, little is understood about the regulation of its expression and the associated signaling pathway. The object of this study is to investigate the regulation of lysozyme expression, the downstream signaling pathway of lysozyme expression, and the related protein kinases under inflammatory conditions using the IL-1beta, which acts as a significant cytokine in many airway inflammations.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
After the IL-1beta treatment of normal human nasal epithelial cells (NHNE), lysozyme mRNA expression was determined by RT-PCR. Expressed levels of ERK/p38 kinase were determined by Western blot analysis.
RESULTS
IL-1beta treated NHNEcells had over-expressed lysozyme compared to the control group. Activated ERK/p38 kinase level showed marked increment by treating NHNE with IL-1beta. Lysozyme expression and ERK/p38 kinase levels decreased when inhibitors of ERK/p38 MAP kinases were added to the IL-1beta treated cells. Finally, expression of lysozyme and activated level of ERK/p38 MAP kinases decreased in a dominant-negative cell line even when treated with IL-1beta.
CONCLUSION
From these results, we concluded that IL-1beta induces over-expression of lysozyme via ERK/p38 MAP kinase signaling pathways in airway epithelial cells.

Keyword

IL-1beta; Lysozyme; ERK; p38 MAP kinase; Normal human nasal epithelial cells

MeSH Terms

Blotting, Western
Cell Line
Epithelial Cells*
Humans*
Inflammation
MAP Kinase Signaling System
Muramidase*
p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
Phosphotransferases
Protein Kinases*
RNA, Messenger
Muramidase
Phosphotransferases
Protein Kinases
RNA, Messenger
p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases