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Role of epidermal growth factor receptor in maintaining airway goblet cell hyperplasia in rats sensitized to allergen
Author(s) -
Takeyama K.,
Tamaoki J.,
Kondo M.,
Isono K.,
Nagai A.
Publication year - 2008
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2008.02951.x
Subject(s) - goblet cell , cancer research , epidermal growth factor receptor , respiratory epithelium , protein kinase b , epidermal growth factor , platelet derived growth factor receptor , biology , mucin , epithelium , microbiology and biotechnology , growth factor , medicine , pathology , signal transduction , receptor
Summary Background Stimulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) induces airway goblet cell hyperplasia, but the role of this molecule in the maintenance of this pathologic change remains uncertain. Objective To determine the mechanisms by which goblet cell hyperplasia is maintained in airway epithelium, we investigated EGFR‐induced signalling pathways that lead to both mucin production and antiapoptosis in vitro . We also tested whether the inhibition of EGFR tyrosine kinase speeds reversal of established goblet cell hyperplasia to normal epithelial phenotype in vivo . Methods MUC5AC production was measured by immunoassay, and antiapoptotic responses were determined by Bcl‐2 expression and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP‐biotin Nick End Labelling staining using NCI‐H292 cells. The effect of an inhibitor of EGFR tyrosine kinase (AG1478) on goblet cell hyperplasia was also determined in rats sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA). Results MUC5AC was constitutively expressed and few apoptotic cells were observed in NCI‐H292 cells under non‐stimulated condition. TGF‐α increased MUC5AC and Bcl‐2 expression, an effect that was prevented by inhibitors of EGFR tyrosine kinase (AG1478), MEK (PD98059), and NF‐κB (CAPE). After the addition of TGF‐α, AG1478 and an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/Akt (LY294002), but not PD98059, induced a marked apoptotic response, which was prevented by the caspase inhibitor Z‐VAD fmk. Goblet cell hyperplasia and EGFR expression in airway epithelium were noted in the OVA‐sensitized rats. Intratracheal instillation of AG1478 induced apoptosis of goblet cells, reverting the airway epithelium to normal epithelial phenotype. Conclusion These findings indicate that EGFR plays an important role in the maintenance of goblet cell hyperplasia. We speculate that inhibitors of the EGFR cascade might be an effective therapy of airway remodelling.