RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Galectin-7 initiates asthma by causing airway epithelial- mesenchymal unit abnormality
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP P1012
VO 44
IS Suppl 58
A1 Shunying Zhao
A1 Mingjing Song
A1 Chunjun Zhou
YR 2014
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P1012.abstract
AB The underlying mechanism for enhanced airway epithelial apoptosis in asthma remains unknown. We previously found that Galectin-7 over-expression was associated with it in childhood asthma.Aims and objectives To investigate the roles of galectin-7 in airway epithelial apoptosis and asthma.MethodsFirstly, we determined the effect of galectin-7 transfection and exogenous galectin-7on airway epithelial apoptosis and asthma in vitro and in vivo. Next, we observed lung pathology in galectin-7 transgenic mice at baseline and after RSV infection and OVA challange. Finally, we detected galectin-7 levels in asthmatic children.ResultsGalectin-7 transfection and exogenous galectin-7 induced airway epithelial apoptosis both in cultured bronchial epithelium and rats. Exogenous galectin-7 was associated with airway epithelial injury and other asthma response. Galectin-7 transgenic mice exhibited abnormal airway epithelial -mesenchymal units, characterized by increased bronchial epithelial apoptosis, thinning epithelium, widening of intercellular space, reduced tight junctions and expression of zonula occludens 1, thinning smooth muscle and discontinuous basement membrane. With age increasing, the airways of some galectin-7 transgenic mice showed part or whole smooth muscle and basement membrane thickening, an increase in (myo)fibroblasts, epithelial shedding and lymphocyte infiltration. When treated with RSV and OVA, galectin-7 transgenic mice developed substantially increased asthma response. Galectin-7 levels were increased in serum and sputum supernatant from asthmatic children.Conclusion These findings indicate galectin-7 initiates asthma by abnormal airway epithelial -mesenchymal units.