Restoration of Corticosteroid Sensitivity by p38 Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase Inhibition in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Severe Asthma.

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Restoration of Corticosteroid Sensitivity by p38 Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase Inhibition in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Severe Asthma.

PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e41582

Authors: Mercado N, Hakim A, Kobayashi Y, Meah S, Usmani OS, Chung KF, Barnes PJ, Ito K

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Severe asthma accounts for a small number of asthmatics but represents a disproportionate cost to health care systems. The underlying mechanism in severe asthma remains unknown but several mechanisms are likely to be involved because of a very heterogeneous profile. We investigated the effects of a p38MAPK inhibitor in corticosteroid sensitivity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from severe asthmatics and the profile of its responders.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Corticosteroid sensitivity was determined by measuring dexamethasone inhibition of CD3/28 and TNF-? induced IL-8 production in PBMCs by using ELISA. PBMCs from severe asthmatics were relatively less sensitive to dexamethasone (Dex) as compared to those of non-severe asthmatics and healthy volunteers. The IC(50) values of Dex negatively correlated with decreased glucocorticoid receptor (GR) nuclear translocation assessed using immunocytochemistry (r?=?-0.65; p<0.0005) and with decreased FEV(1) (% predicted) (r?=?0.6; p<0.0005). A p38?/? inhibitor (SB203580) restored Dex-sensitivity in a subpopulation of severe asthma that was characterized by a defective GR nuclear translocation, clinically by lower FEV(1) and higher use of oral prednisolone. We also found that SB203580 partially inhibited GR phosphorylation at serine 226, resulting in increased GR nuclear translocation in IL-2/IL-4 treated corticosteroid insensitive U937s.
CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: p38MAPK?/? is involved in defective GR nuclear translocation due to phosphorylation at Ser226 and this will be a useful biomarker to identify responders to p38MAPK?/? inhibitor in the future.

PMID: 22911818 [PubMed – in process]

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Chlamydophila pneumonia inhibits the corticosteroid-induced suppressions of metalloproteinase-9 and tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-1 secretion by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Chlamydophila pneumonia inhibits the corticosteroid-induced suppressions of metalloproteinase-9 and tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-1 secretion by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

J Med Microbiol. 2012 Jan 26;

Authors: Park CS, Lee YS, Kwon HS, Lee TH, Kim TB, Moon KA, Yoo B, Moon HB, Cho YS

Abstract
Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection has been suggested to be associated with severe asthma characterized by persistent airway limitation, which may be related to airway remodeling. We investigated whether C. pneumoniae infection affected the secretion of metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) and tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP1), and altered the responsiveness of inflammatory cells to corticosteroids. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were cultured in vitro in the presence or absence of C. pneumoniae. Secretion of both MMP9 and TIMP1 was strongly suppressed by dexamethasone treatment in uninfected cells. MMP9 secretion was also significantly inhibited by dexamethasone in C. pneumoniae-infected cells, but TIMP1 secretion was not; hence the MMP9 to TIMP1 ratio decreased. Interestingly, expression of human glucocorticoid receptor (GR)?, which is believed to confer resistance to corticosteroids, was enhanced by dexamethasone treatment in C. pneumoniae-infected PBMC. We conclude that C. pneumoniae infection may promote airway remodeling by decreasing the ratio of MMP9 to TIMP1 secreted by inflammatory cells, and by altering cellular responsiveness to corticosteroids.

PMID: 22282461 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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