技术资料

Human rhinovirus (HRV) is the most common virus contributing to acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) nearly year-round,but the mechanisms have not been well elucidated. Recent clinical studies suggest that high levels of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) protein in the blood are associated with an increased yearly rate of all-cause COPD exacerbations. Therefore,in the current study,we investigated whether GDF15 promotes HRV infection and virus-induced lung inflammation. We first examined the role of GDF15 in regulating host defense and HRV-induced inflammation using human GDF15 transgenic mice and cultured human GDF15 transgenic mouse tracheal epithelial cells. Next,we determined the effect of GDF15 on viral replication,antiviral responses,and inflammation in human airway epithelial cells with GDF15 knockdown and HRV infection. Finally,we explored the signaling pathways involved in airway epithelial responses to HRV infection in the context of GDF15. Human GDF15 protein over-expression in mice led to exaggerated inflammatory responses to HRV,increased infectious particle release,and decreased IFN-λ2/3 (IL-28A/B) mRNA expression in the lung. Moreover,GDF15 facilitated HRV replication and inflammation via inhibiting IFN-λ1/IL-29 protein production in human airway epithelial cells. Lastly,Smad1 cooperated with interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) to regulate airway epithelial responses to HRV infection partly via GDF15 signaling. Our results reveal a novel function of GDF15 in promoting lung HRV infection and virus-induced inflammation,which may be a new mechanism for the increased susceptibility and severity of respiratory viral (i.e.,HRV) infection in cigarette smoke-exposed airways with GDF15 over-production. View Publication

Exposure to cigarette smoke causes a multitude of pathological changes leading to tissue damage and disease. Quantifying such changes in highly differentiated in vitro human tissue models may assist in evaluating the toxicity of tobacco products. In this methods development study,well-differentiated human air-liquid-interface (ALI) in vitro airway tissue models were used to assess toxicological endpoints relevant to tobacco smoke exposure. Whole mainstream smoke solutions (WSSs) were prepared from 2 commercial cigarettes (R60 and S60) that differ in smoke constituents when machine-smoked under International Organization for Standardization conditions. The airway tissue models were exposed apically to WSSs 4-h per day for 1-5 days. Cytotoxicity,tissue barrier integrity,oxidative stress,mucin secretion,and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) excretion were measured. The treatments were not cytotoxic and had marginal effects on tissue barrier properties; however,other endpoints responded in time- and dose-dependent manners,with the R60 resulting in higher levels of response than the S60 for many endpoints. Based on the lowest effect dose,differences in response to the WSSs were observed for mucin induction and MMP secretion. Mitigation of mucin induction by cotreatment of cultures with N-acetylcysteine suggests that oxidative stress contributes to mucus hypersecretion. Overall,these preliminary results suggest that quantifying disease-relevant endpoints using ALI airway models is a potential tool for tobacco product toxicity evaluation. Additional research using tobacco samples generated under smoking machine conditions that more closely approximate human smoking patterns will inform further methods development. View Publication

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes severe respiratory disease in young children. Antibodies specific for the RSV prefusion F protein have guided RSV vaccine research,and in human serum,these antibodies contribute to<90% of the neutralization response; however,detailed insight into the composition of the human B cell repertoire against RSV is still largely unknown. In order to study the B cell repertoire of three healthy donors for specificity against RSV,CD27+memory B cells were isolated and immortalized using BCL6 and Bcl-xL. Of the circulating memory B cells,0.35% recognized RSV-A2-infected cells,of which 59% were IgA-expressing cells and 41% were IgG-expressing cells. When we generated monoclonal B cells selected for high binding to RSV-infected cells,44.5% of IgG-expressing B cells and 56% of IgA-expressing B cells reacted to the F protein,while,unexpectedly,41.5% of IgG-expressing B cells and 44% of IgA expressing B cells reacted to the G protein. Analysis of the G-specific antibodies revealed that 4 different domains on the G protein were recognized. These epitopes predicted cross-reactivity between RSV strain A (RSV-A) and RSV-B and matched the potency of antibodies to neutralize RSV in HEp-2 cells and in primary epithelial cell cultures. G-specific antibodies were also able to induce antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis of RSV-A2-infected cells. However,these processes did not seem to depend on a specific epitope. In conclusion,healthy adults harbor a diverse repertoire of RSV glycoprotein-specific antibodies with a broad range of effector functions that likely play an important role in antiviral immunity.IMPORTANCEHuman RSV remains the most common cause of severe lower respiratory tract disease in premature babies,young infants,the elderly,and immunocompromised patients and plays an important role in asthma exacerbations. In developing countries,RSV lower respiratory tract disease has a high mortality. Without an effective vaccine,only passive immunization with palivizumab is approved for prophylactic treatment. However,highly potent RSV-specific monoclonal antibodies could potentially serve as a therapeutic treatment and contribute to disease control and mortality reduction. In addition,these antibodies could guide further vaccine development. In this study,we isolated and characterized several novel antibodies directed at the RSV G protein. This information can add to our understanding and treatment of RSV disease. View Publication

Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) belongs to the genus Bocaparvovirus of the Parvoviridae family,and is an emerging human pathogenic respiratory virus. In vitro,HBoV1 infects well-differentiated/polarized primary human airway epithelium (HAE) cultured at an air-liquid interface (HAE-ALI). Although it is well known that autonomous parvovirus replication depends on the S phase of the host cells,we demonstrate here that the HBoV1 genome amplifies efficiently in mitotically quiescent airway epithelial cells of HAE-ALI cultures. Analysis of HBoV1 DNA in infected HAE-ALI revealed that HBoV1 amplifies its ssDNA genome following a typical parvovirus rolling-hairpin DNA replication mechanism. Notably,HBoV1 infection of HAE-ALI initiates a DNA damage response (DDR) with activation of all three phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related kinases (PI3KKs). We found that the activation of the three PI3KKs is required for HBoV1 genome amplification; and,more importantly,we identified that two Y-family DNA polymerases,Pol eta and Pol kappa,are involved in HBoV1 genome amplification. Overall,we have provided an example of de novo DNA synthesis (genome amplification) of an autonomous parvovirus in non-dividing cells,which is dependent on the cellular DNA damage and repair pathways. View Publication

Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) is a human parvovirus that causes acute respiratory tract infections in young children. In this study,we confirmed that,when polarized/well-differentiated human airway epithelia are infected with HBoV1in vitro,they develop damage characterized by barrier function disruption and cell hypotrophy. Cell death mechanism analyses indicated that the infection induced pyroptotic cell death characterized by caspase-1 activation. Unlike infections with other parvoviruses,HBoV1 infection did not activate the apoptotic or necroptotic cell death pathway. When the NLRP3-ASC-caspase-1 inflammasome-induced pathway was inhibited by short hairpin RNA (shRNA),HBoV1-induced cell death dropped significantly; thus,NLRP3 mediated by ASC appears to be the pattern recognition receptor driving HBoV1 infection-induced pyroptosis. HBoV1 infection induced steady increases in the expression of interleukin 1α (IL-1α) and IL-18. HBoV1 infection was also associated with the marked expression of the antiapoptotic genesBIRC5andIFI6When the expression ofBIRC5and/orIFI6was inhibited by shRNA,the infected cells underwent apoptosis rather than pyroptosis,as indicated by increased cleaved caspase-3 levels and the absence of caspase-1.BIRC5and/orIFI6gene inhibition also significantly reduced HBoV1 replication. Thus,HBoV1 infection of human airway epithelial cells activates antiapoptotic proteins that suppress apoptosis and promote pyroptosis. This response may have evolved to confer a replicative advantage,thus allowing HBoV1 to establish a persistent airway epithelial infection. This is the first report of pyroptosis in airway epithelia infected by a respiratory virus.IMPORTANCEMicrobial infection of immune cells often induces pyroptosis,which is mediated by a cytosolic protein complex called the inflammasome that senses microbial pathogens and then activates the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1 and IL-18. While virus-infected airway epithelia often activate NLRP3 inflammasomes,studies to date suggest that these viruses kill the airway epithelial cells via the apoptotic or necrotic pathway; involvement of the pyroptosis pathway has not been reported previously. Here,we show for the first time that virus infection of human airway epithelia can also induce pyroptosis. Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1),a human parvovirus,causes lower respiratory tract infections in young children. This study indicates that HBoV1 kills airway epithelial cells by activating genes that suppress apoptosis and thereby promote pyroptosis. This strategy appears to promote HBoV1 replication and may have evolved to allow HBoV1 to establish persistent infection of human airway epithelia. View Publication

Little is known about monocyte differentiation in the lung mucosal environment and about how the epithelium shapes monocyte function. We studied the role of the soluble component of bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) obtained under basal culture conditions in innate and adaptive monocyte responses. Monocytes cultured in bronchial epithelial cell-conditioned media (BEC-CM) specifically upregulate CD141,CD123,and DC-SIGN surface levels andFLT3expression,as well as the release of IL-1β,IL-6,and IL-10. BEC-conditioned monocytes stimulate naive T cells to produce IL-17 through IL-1β mechanism and also trigger IL-10 production by memory T cells. Furthermore,monocytes cultured in an inflammatory environment induced by the cytokines IL-6,IL-8,IL-1β,IL-15,TNF-α,and GM-CSF also upregulate CD123 and DC-SIGN expression. However,only inflammatory cytokines in the epithelial environment boost the expression of CD141. Interestingly,we identified a CD141/CD123/DC-SIGN triple positive population in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from patients with different inflammatory conditions,demonstrating that this monocyte population existsin vivo. The frequency of this monocyte population was significantly increased in patients with sarcoidosis,suggesting a role in inflammatory mechanisms. Overall,these data highlight the specific role that the epithelium plays in shaping monocyte responses. Therefore,the unraveling of these mechanisms contributes to the understanding of the function that the epithelium may playin vivo. View Publication

Bio-engineered organs for transplantation may ultimately provide a personalized solution for end-stage organ failure,without the risk of rejection. Building upon the process of whole organ perfusion decellularization,we aimed to develop novel,translational methods for the recellularization and regeneration of transplantable lung constructs. We first isolated a proliferative KRT5+TP63+ basal epithelial stem cell population from human lung tissue and demonstrated expansion capacity in conventional 2D culture. We then repopulated acellular rat scaffolds in ex vivo whole organ culture and observed continued cell proliferation,in combination with primary pulmonary endothelial cells. To show clinical scalability,and to test the regenerative capacity of the basal cell population in a human context,we then recellularized and cultured isolated human lung scaffolds under biomimetic conditions. Analysis of the regenerated tissue constructs confirmed cell viability and sustained metabolic activity over 7 days of culture. Tissue analysis revealed extensive recellularization with organized tissue architecture and morphology,and preserved basal epithelial cell phenotype. The recellularized lung constructs displayed dynamic compliance and rudimentary gas exchange capacity. Our results underline the regenerative potential of patient-derived human airway stem cells in lung tissue engineering. We anticipate these advances to have clinically relevant implications for whole lung bioengineering and ex vivo organ repair. View Publication

Cellular plasticity contributes to the regenerative capacity of plants,invertebrates,teleost fishes and amphibians. In vertebrates,differentiated cells are known to revert into replicating progenitors,but these cells do not persist as stable stem cells. Here we present evidence that differentiated airway epithelial cells can revert into stable and functional stem cells in vivo. After the ablation of airway stem cells,we observed a surprising increase in the proliferation of committed secretory cells. Subsequent lineage tracing demonstrated that the luminal secretory cells had dedifferentiated into basal stem cells. Dedifferentiated cells were morphologically indistinguishable from stem cells and they functioned as well as their endogenous counterparts in repairing epithelial injury. Single secretory cells clonally dedifferentiated into multipotent stem cells when they were cultured ex vivo without basal stem cells. By contrast,direct contact with a single basal stem cell was sufficient to prevent secretory cell dedifferentiation. In analogy to classical descriptions of amphibian nuclear reprogramming,the propensity of committed cells to dedifferentiate is inversely correlated to their state of maturity. This capacity of committed cells to dedifferentiate into stem cells may have a more general role in the regeneration of many tissues and in multiple disease states,notably cancer. View Publication

Human coronaviruses (HCoVs) enter cells via two distinct pathways: the endosomal pathway using cathepsins to activate spike protein and the cell-surface or early endosome pathway using extracellular proteases such as transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2). We previously reported that clinical isolates of HCoV-229E preferred cell-surface TMPRSS2 to endosomal cathepsin for cell entry,and that they acquired the ability to use cathepsin L by repeated passage in cultured cells and were then able to enter cells via the endosomal pathway. Here,we show that clinical isolates of HCoV-OC43 and -HKU1 preferred the cell-surface TMRRSS2 to endosomal cathepsins for cell entry,similar to HCoV-229E. In addition,the cell-culture-adapted HCoV-OC43 lost the ability to infect and replicate in air-liquid interface cultures of human bronchial tracheal epithelial cells. These results suggest that circulating HCoVs in the field generally use cell-surface TMPRSS2 for cell entry,not endosomal cathepsins,in human airway epithelial cells. View Publication

Extracellular matrix (ECM) composition and stiffness are major driving forces for the development and persistence of fibrotic diseases. Lysyl oxidase (LOX) and LOX-like (LOXL) proteins play crucial roles in ECM remodeling due to their collagen crosslinking and intracellular functions. Here,we systematically investigated LOX/L expression in primary fibroblasts and epithelial cells under fibrotic conditions,Bleomycin (BLM) induced lung fibrosis and in human IPF tissue. Basal expression of all LOX/L family members was detected in epithelial cells and at higher levels in fibroblasts. Various pro-fibrotic stimuli broadly induced LOX/L expression in fibroblasts,whereas specific induction of LOXL2 and partially LOX was observed in epithelial cells. Immunohistochemical analysis of lung tissue from 14 IPF patients and healthy donors revealed strong induction of LOX and LOXL2 in bronchial and alveolar epithelium as well as fibroblastic foci. Using siRNA experiments we observed that LOXL2 and LOXL3 were crucial for fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition (FMT). As FMT could only be reconstituted with an enzymatically active LOXL2 variant,we conclude that LOXL2 enzymatic function is crucial for fibroblast transdifferentiation. In summary,our study provides a comprehensive analysis of the LOX/L family in fibrotic lung disease and indicates prominent roles for LOXL2/3 in fibroblast activation and LOX/LOXL2 in IPF. View Publication