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A common polymorphism in the Intelectin-1 gene influences mucus plugging in severe asthma

ABSTRACT: By incompletely understood mechanisms, type 2 (T2) inflammation present in the airways of severe asthmatics drives the formation of pathologic mucus which leads to airway mucus plugging. Here we investigate the molecular role and clinical significance of intelectin-1 (ITLN-1) in the development of pathologic airway mucus in asthma. Through analyses of human airway epithelial cells we find that ITLN1 gene expression is highly induced by interleukin-13 (IL-13) in a subset of metaplastic MUC5AC+ mucus secretory cells, and that ITLN-1 protein is a secreted component of IL-13-induced mucus. Additionally, we find ITLN-1 protein binds the C-terminus of the MUC5AC mucin and that its deletion in airway epithelial cells partially reverses IL-13-induced mucostasis. Through analysis of nasal airway epithelial brushings, we find that ITLN1 is highly expressed in T2-high asthmatics, when compared to T2-low children. Furthermore, we demonstrate that ITLN1 gene expression is significantly reduced and ITLN-1 protein expression is lost through a common genetic variant that is associated with protection from the formation of mucus plugs in T2-high asthma. This work identifies one of the first biomarkers and targetable pathways for the treatment of mucus obstruction in asthma.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE254127 | GEO | 2024/04/04

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Background: Although several studies link high levels of IL-6 and soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) with asthma severity and decreased lung function, the role of IL-6 trans-signaling (IL-6TS) in asthma is unclear. Objective: To explore the association between epithelial IL-6TS pathway activation and molecular and clinical phenotypes in asthma. Methods: Primary human bronchial epithelial cell (HBEC) air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures were stimulated with IL-6 and sIL-6R to establish an IL-6TS gene signature. Two separate RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) studies were performed: The “IL-6 vs T2 study” compared gene expression after stimulation with control medium, IL-6, IL-6/sIL-6R and IL-4/IL-13, while the “JAK1-inhibition study” addressed the effect of JAK1 inhibition on IL-6TS induced gene expression. The IL-6TS gene signature was used to stratify lung epithelial transcriptomic data obtained from asthmatics (n=103) in the U-BIOPRED cohorts by hierarchical clustering. Molecular phenotyping was based on the transcriptional profiling of epithelial brushings, pathway analysis and immunohistochemistry analysis of bronchial biopsies. Results: Activation of IL-6TS in HBEC ALI cultures reduced epithelial barrier function and induced a specific epithelial gene signature enriched in airway remodeling genes. The IL-6TS signature identified a subset (n=17) of IL-6TS High asthma patients with increased epithelial expression of IL-6TS inducible genes in absence of increased systemic levels of IL-6 and sIL-6R. The IL-6TS High subset had an increased exacerbation frequency (p=0.028), blood (>300/μl; p=0.0028) and sputum (>20%; p=0.007) eosinophilia, and submucosal infiltration of CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells (p<0.001) and macrophages (p=0.001). In bronchial brushings, TLR pathway genes were up-regulated while the expression of epithelial tight junction genes was reduced (all with q<0.05). Sputum sIL-6R levels correlated with sputum markers of remodeling and innate immune activation, in particular YKL-40, MMP3, IL-8 and IL-1β (all with q<0.001). Conclusions: Local lung epithelial IL-6TS activation in absence of type 2 airway inflammation defines a novel subset of asthmatics and may drive airway inflammation and epithelial dysfunction in these patients.

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A common polymorphism in the Intelectin-1 gene influences mucus plugging in severe asthma

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