PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Emmanuel T. Osei
AU  - Jacobien A. Noordhoek
AU  - Tillie L. Hackett
AU  - Anita I.R. Spanjer
AU  - Dirkje S. Postma
AU  - Wim Timens
AU  - Corry-Anke Brandsma
AU  - Irene H. Heijink
TI  - Interleukin-1α drives the dysfunctional cross-talk of the airway epithelium and lung fibroblasts in COPD
AID  - 10.1183/13993003.01911-2015
DP  - 2016 Aug 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 359--369
VI  - 48
IP  - 2
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/48/2/359.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/48/2/359.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2016 Aug 01; 48
AB  - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been associated with aberrant epithelial–mesenchymal interactions resulting in inflammatory and remodelling processes. We developed a co-culture model using COPD and control-derived airway epithelial cells (AECs) and lung fibroblasts to understand the mediators that are involved in remodelling and inflammation in COPD.AECs and fibroblasts obtained from COPD and control lung tissue were grown in co-culture with fetal lung fibroblast or human bronchial epithelial cell lines. mRNA and protein expression of inflammatory mediators, pro-fibrotic molecules and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins were assessed.Co-culture resulted in the release of pro-inflammatory mediators interleukin (IL)-8/CXCL8 and heat shock protein (Hsp70) from lung fibroblasts, and decreased expression of ECM molecules (e.g. collagen, decorin) that was not different between control and COPD-derived primary cells. This pro-inflammatory effect was mediated by epithelial-derived IL-1α and increased upon epithelial exposure to cigarette smoke extract (CSE). When exposed to CSE, COPD-derived AECs elicited a stronger IL-1α response compared with control-derived airway epithelium and this corresponded with a significantly enhanced IL-8 release from lung fibroblasts.We demonstrate that, through IL-1α production, AECs induce a pro-inflammatory lung fibroblast phenotype that is further enhanced with CSE exposure in COPD, suggesting an aberrant epithelial–fibroblast interaction in COPD.IL-1α regulates epithelial–fibroblast interaction, and may drive inflammation and tissue remodelling in COPD http://ow.ly/Rhy23008ytz