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Heat shock protein 70 upregulation is related to HLA‐DR expression in bronchial asthma. Effects of inhaled glucocorticoids
Author(s) -
Giuseppina Bertorelli,
Vincenzo Bocchino,
X. Zhuo,
Alfredo Chetta,
Mario Del Donno,
Antonio Foresi,
Rossana Testi,
Dario Olivieri
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2222.1998.00251.x
Subject(s) - fluticasone propionate , medicine , hsp70 , hla dr , immunology , human leukocyte antigen , antigen , bronchoalveolar lavage , heat shock protein , asthma , lung , biology , biochemistry , gene
Background and objective Antigen processing determines the production of peptides from antigens — including allergens — and their binding to class II major histocompatibility complex molecules, that stimulate T‐cell responses. Heat shock protein (hsp) 70 are recognized to have a role in chaperoning antigenic peptides and in facilitating class II peptide assembly. We studied the HLA‐DR and hsp70 expression on BAL cells and bronchial biopsies from asthmatics, as well as the effect of low dose fluticasone propionate treatment. Methods Twenty‐three asthmatics and eight normal subjects were selected. In each subject BAL and bronchial biopsies were performed. Eighteen out of 23 asthmatics, underwent the second bronchoscopy after 6 weeks of low dose inhaled fluticasone propionate treatment (250 μg bd) in a placebo‐controlled double‐blind study. BAL fluid and biopsies were processed to evaluate HLA‐DR and hsp70 expression by immunochemistry methods. Results Hsp70 and HLA‐DR upregulation was present on professional and non‐professional antigen presenting cells (APCs). In asthmatics, the hsp70 and HLA‐DR expression was higher in BAL (hsp70 P < 0.001, HLA‐DR P < 0.001) and bronchial epithelium (hsp70 P < 0.001, HLA‐DR P < 0.001) when compared with controls. We also observed a significant correlation between hsp70 and HLA‐DR expression in BAL ( P < 0.005) and epithelium ( P < 0.001). Fluticasone propionate treatment down‐regulated the hsp70 and HLA‐DR expression in BAL (hsp70 P < 0.001, HLA‐DR P < 0.05) and bronchial epithelium (hsp70 P < 0.05, HLA‐DR P < 0.05). A serial section comparison study showed that CD1a + cells and macrophages were positive for both hsp70 and HLA‐DR in the submucosa. Conclusions Our results support the hypothesis that hsp70 over‐expression implies a potential role for these proteins in antigen processing and/or presentation resulting in an increased activity of APCs, which is essential for the initiation and modulation of the asthmatic immune response in chronic asthma. Fluticasone propionate induces down‐regulation of HLA‐DR and hsp70 molecules thus regulating inflammation by affecting key mechanisms of the allergic response.