Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-11-2019
Abstract
Helper T effector cytokines implicated in asthma modulate the contractility of human airway smooth muscle (HASM) cells. We have reported recently that a profibrotic cytokine, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, induces HASM cell shortening and airway hyperresponsiveness. Here, we assessed whether TGF-β1 affects the ability of HASM cells to relax in response to β2-agonists, a mainstay treatment for airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma. Overnight TGF-β1 treatment significantly impaired isoproterenol (ISO)-induced relaxation of carbachol-stimulated, isolated HASM cells. This single-cell mechanical hyporesponsiveness to ISO was corroborated by sustained increases in myosin light chain phosphorylation. In TGF-β1–treated HASM cells, ISO evoked markedly lower levels of intracellular cAMP. These attenuated cAMP levels were, in turn, restored with pharmacological and siRNA inhibition of phosphodiesterase 4 and Smad3, respectively. Most strikingly, TGF-β1 selectively induced phosphodiesterase 4D gene expression in HASM cells in a Smad2/3-dependent manner. Together, these data suggest that TGF-β1 decreases HASM cell β2-agonist relaxation responses by modulating intracellular cAMP levels via a Smad2/3-dependent mechanism. Our findings further define the mechanisms underlying β2-agonist hyporesponsiveness in asthma, and suggest TGF-β1 as a potential therapeutic target to decrease asthma exacerbations in severe and treatment-resistant asthma.
Recommended Citation
Ojiaku CA, Chung E, Parikh V, et al. Transforming growth factor-β1 decreases β2-agonist–induced relaxation in human airway smooth muscle. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2019;61(2):2019-2018. https://doi.org/10.1165/rcmb.2018-0301OC
Copyright
American Thoracic Society
Included in
Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins Commons, Other Chemicals and Drugs Commons, Other Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Commons, Pharmaceutical Preparations Commons, Respiratory System Commons, Respiratory Tract Diseases Commons, Therapeutics Commons
Comments
This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, volume 61, issue 2, in 2019 following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at https://doi.org/10.1165/rcmb.2018-0301OC.