Crosstalk Between Co-cultured A549 Cells and THP1 Cells Exposed to Cigarette Smoke

• Published in: Advances in experimental medicine and biology Vol. 858; p. 47
• Main Authors: Holownia, A, Wielgat, P, Kwolek, A, Jackowski, K, Braszko, J J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.01.2015
• Subjects: Acetylation - drug effects; Antigens, CD - genetics; Antigens, CD - metabolism; Carbon Monoxide - toxicity; Cell Communication - drug effects; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; Coculture Techniques; Culture Media, Conditioned - toxicity; Epithelial Cells - drug effects; Epithelial Cells - metabolism; Epithelial Cells - pathology; Gene Expression - drug effects; Histones - genetics; Histones - metabolism; HLA-DR Antigens - genetics; HLA-DR Antigens - metabolism; Humans; Monocytes - cytology; Monocytes - drug effects; Monocytes - metabolism; Nicotiana - chemistry; Nicotiana - toxicity; Nicotine - toxicity; Organ Specificity; Oxidative Stress; Smoke - analysis; Tars - toxicity
• ISSN: 0065-2598
• DOI: 10.1007/5584_2015_112

Cigarette smoke (CS) is considered as a major etiological factor in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In this study we used A549 cells and THP-1 cells grown for 24 h in monoculture or in co-culture in CS-conditioned media and changes in their proliferation, viability, acetylated histone H3 levels and expression of extracellular antigens CD14, HLA-DR, CD11a, and CD11b were assessed. CS was highly toxic to A549 cells but not to THP1 cells. In A549 cells, oxidative stress reached the highest values after 1 h of CS exposure and then decreased. In THP1 cells oxidative stress was lower and increased progressively with time. CS decreased proliferation of A549 and THP1 cells by about 80% and 21%, respectively. CS did not alter acetylated histone H3 levels in A549 cells, while in THP1 cells the levels were reduced by about 35%. CS significantly increased expression of CD14, HLA-DR, CD11a, and CD11b in THP1 cells. In co-culture, naïve or CS-pretreated THP1 cells significantly protected A549 cells against CS toxicity but had higher death rates. These results show that epithelial cells are more fragile to CS than monocytes and that CS-activated monocytes may protect epithelial cells against CS-induced cytotoxicity.