ORCID Profile
0000-0001-8603-302X
Current Organisations
University of Southampton
,
University of Southampton Faculty of Medicine
,
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
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Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2011
DOI: 10.1016/J.JACI.2011.05.038
Abstract: Asthma is a complex disease involving gene and environment interactions. Although atopy is a strong predisposing risk factor for asthma, local tissue susceptibilities are required for disease expression. The bronchial epithelium forms the interface with the external environment and is pivotally involved in controlling tissue homeostasis through provision of a physical barrier controlled by tight junction (TJ) complexes. To explain the link between environment exposures and airway vulnerability, we hypothesized that epithelial TJs are abnormal in asthma, leading to increased susceptibility to environmental agents. Localization of TJs in bronchial biopsies and differentiated epithelial cultures was assessed by electron microscopy or immunostaining. Baseline permeability and the effect of cigarette smoke and growth factor were assessed by measurement of transepithelial electrical resistance and passage of fluorescently labeled dextrans. By using immunostaining, we found that bronchial biopsies from asthmatic subjects displayed patchy disruption of TJs. In differentiated bronchial epithelial cultures, TJ formation and transepithelial electrical resistance were significantly lower (P < .05) in cultures from asthmatic donors (n = 43) than from normal controls (n = 40) and inversely correlated with macromolecular permeability. Cultures from asthmatic donors were also more sensitive to disruption by cigarette smoke extract. Epidermal growth factor enhanced basal TJ formation in cultures from asthmatic subjects (P < .01) and protected against cigarette smoke-induced barrier disruption (P < .01). Our results show that the bronchial epithelial barrier in asthma is compromised. This defect may facilitate the passage of allergens and other agents into the airway tissue, leading to immune activation and may thus contribute to the end organ expression of asthma.
Location: South Africa
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United States of America
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Hans Michael Haitchi.