Aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation by diesel exhaust particles mediates epithelium‐derived cytokines expression in severe allergic asthma

CM Weng, CH Wang, MJ Lee, JR He, HY Huang… - Allergy, 2018 - Wiley Online Library
CM Weng, CH Wang, MJ Lee, JR He, HY Huang, MW Chao, KF Chung, HP Kuo
Allergy, 2018Wiley Online Library
Background Exposure to environmental pollutants promotes Th2 cell responses. Aryl
hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation aggravates allergic responses. Epithelium‐derived
thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), interleukin (IL)‐25, and IL‐33 are implicated in the
dysregulation of Th2 immune responses in severe allergic asthma. Methods Bronchial
biopsies of 28 allergic severe asthma and 6 mild asthma subjects from highly polluted areas
were analyzed for AhR nuclear translocation (NT), cytokine expression, and gene activation …
Background
Exposure to environmental pollutants promotes Th2 cell responses. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation aggravates allergic responses. Epithelium‐derived thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), interleukin (IL)‐25, and IL‐33 are implicated in the dysregulation of Th2 immune responses in severe allergic asthma.
Methods
Bronchial biopsies of 28 allergic severe asthma and 6 mild asthma subjects from highly polluted areas were analyzed for AhR nuclear translocation (NT), cytokine expression, and gene activation. Cultured primary epithelial cells were stimulated with diesel exhausted particles (DEP) to determine AhR‐mediated IL‐33, Il‐25, and TSLP synthesis and release.
Results
Primary bronchial epithelial cells exposed to DEP showed upregulation of IL‐33, IL‐25, and TSLP. These effects were abolished by knockdown of AhR by siRNA. Increased AhR/ARNT binding to promoters of IL‐33, IL‐25, and TSLP was found using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. Allergic severe asthma with high AhR NT had higher bronchial gene and protein expression of IL‐33, IL‐25, and TSLP. These patients derived clinical benefit from anti‐IgE treatment.
Conclusion
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation by DEP mediates upregulation of IL‐33, IL‐25, and TSLP with Th2 activation, potentially linking environmental pollution and allergic severe asthma.
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