RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Interleukin-1α drives the dysfunctional cross-talk of the airway epithelium and lung fibroblasts in COPD JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP 359 OP 369 DO 10.1183/13993003.01911-2015 VO 48 IS 2 A1 Emmanuel T. Osei A1 Jacobien A. Noordhoek A1 Tillie L. Hackett A1 Anita I.R. Spanjer A1 Dirkje S. Postma A1 Wim Timens A1 Corry-Anke Brandsma A1 Irene H. Heijink YR 2016 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/48/2/359.abstract 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