Impaired TNFα-induced VEGF Expression in Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cells from Smokers with COPD: Role of MAPkinases and Histone Acetylation—Effect of Dexamethasone

Abstract

The cytokine and potent angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in airway remodelling in various airway diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, lung cancer, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The effect of cigarette-smoking on VEGF expression, the modulatory role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-1,-2, p38mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), histone acetylation and the anti-inflammatory effect of dexamethasone on TNFalpha-induced VEGF expression were examined in human airway smooth muscle cells (HASMC) of five non-smokers, 17 smokers without airflow limitation and 15 smokers with COPD. TNFalpha increased VEGF expression 5.4-fold and 4.0-fold in HASMC from non-smokers and smokers without airflow limitation, respectively, but only 2.5-fold in HASMC from smokers with COPD compared with non-stimulated HASMC. VEGF production was dependent on phosphorylation of ERK-1,-2 and p38MAPK, as was shown by examining the effects of PD 098059 (10 microM), an inhibitor of the upstream activator of MAPKkinase (MKK)-1, and SB 203580 (10 microM), an inhibitor of p38MAPK; there were no differences between non-smokers, smokers without airflow limitation and smokers with COPD in this respect. Dexamethasone (DEX; 10(-12)-10(-4) M) reduced TNFalpha-induced phosphorylation of ERK-1/-2 and prevented TNFalpha-induced VEGF generation without differences between non-smokers, smokers with and without COPD. There was an additional inhibitory effect of DEX (10(-12) M) on VEGF-release when PD 098059 was added. The basal and TNFalpha-induced acetylation status of the VEGF-promoter (chromatin immunoprecipitation [ChIP] assay) was increased in HASMC from smokers with COPD compared with smokers without airflow limitation and non-smokers. In comparison to non-stimulated HASMC, TNFalpha decreased the acetylation status of the VEGF-promoter by approximately 46% and approximately 43% in HASMC from non-smokers and smokers without COPD compared with approximately 68% in HASMC from smokers with COPD. The data suggest that HASMC express VEGF in response to TNFalpha and that this may be reduced in HASMC of smokers with COPD in a smoking-independent manner. VEGF expression is directly modulated by phosphorylation of ERK-1,-2 and p38MAPK and by histone acetylation and the acetylation status of the VEGF gene is increased in HASMC of smokers with COPD in a smoking-independent manner. TNFalpha reduced the acetylation status of the VEGF promoter in HASMC.

Schistosomiasis-Induced Experimental Pulmonary Hypertension

“…We furthermore investigated p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2), downstream targets of TNF-␣. 43 Activity of p44/42 MAPK levels was increased in IL-13R␣1 Ϫ/Ϫ and IL-13R␣2 Ϫ/Ϫ mice compared with wild-type mice, but no significant changes were detected with schistosomiasis infection (Supplemental Figure 9, see http://ajp.amjpathol.org).…”

Resveratrol Impairs the Release of Steroid-Resistant Inflammatory Cytokines from Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cells in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

“…In contrast, VEGF is reduced in COPD with emphysema (Kanazawa, 2007). VEGF is released from several cell types of the lung including HASMCs (Raidl et al, 2007).…”

Expression of TNF-α, VEGF, and MMP-3 mRNAs in synovial tissues and their roles in fibroblast-mediated osteogenesis in ankylosing spondylitis

“…The differentiation and maturation of OCs can only occur when large numbers of OBs are present (Suzuki et al, 1998;Raidl et al, 2007). While no OBs have been found in normal synovial tissues, we hypothesized that some OBs might exist in AS patient synovial tissues in order to support the differentiation and maturation of OCs.…”