Bronchial epithelial cell-derived extracellular vesicles drive inflammasome activation and <i>NTHi</i> infection in COPD.

ABSTRACT: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid-membrane bound vesicles that can be beneficial or detrimental depending on the content they carry. As epithelial cells are the first line of defense against harmful particles, this work explored the role of bronchial epithelial cell-derived EVs (CepEVs) in the pathogenesis and progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). RNA sequencing of macrophages stimulated with CepEVs revealed the upregulation of various inflammasome-related genes, alongside significant IL-1b and IL-18 release, which could be attenuated with caspase-1 or NLRP3 inhibition. The proteome of CepEVs was also assessed, which highlighted a significant reduction in antibacterial proteins compared to healthy EVs (HepEVs). When functionally assessed in NTHi infection

SUBMITTER: Bateman G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12807989 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature