Der p2 activates airway smooth muscle cells in a TLR2/MyD88-dependent manner to induce an inflammatory response

• Published in: Journal of cellular physiology Vol. 220; no. 2; pp. 311 - 318
• Main Authors: Chiou, Ya-Ling, Lin, Ching-Yuang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.08.2009
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens, Dermatophagoides - genetics; Antigens, Dermatophagoides - immunology; Arthropod Proteins; Asthma - immunology; Cells, Cultured; Cytokines - genetics; Cytokines - immunology; Enzyme Activation; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases - genetics; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases - immunology; Humans; Inflammation - metabolism; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - genetics; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - immunology; MAP Kinase Signaling System - immunology; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 - genetics; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 - immunology; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - cytology; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - immunology; NF-kappa B - metabolism; Protein Isoforms - genetics; Protein Isoforms - immunology; Rats; Respiratory System - cytology; Respiratory System - immunology; Toll-Like Receptor 2 - genetics; Toll-Like Receptor 2 - immunology; Toll-Like Receptors - genetics; Toll-Like Receptors - immunology
• ISSN: 0021-9541; 1097-4652
• DOI: 10.1002/jcp.21764

Der p2 is a major allergen from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, the main species of house dust mite and a major inducer of asthma, inducing harmful respiratory inflammatory responses by activating cells in the respiratory tract, leading to an unstable status. We hypothesize that Der p2 may induce local inflammatory responses by directly affecting airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells. In this study, we demonstrated that Der p2 raised nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 activation and induced a high level of proinflammatory cytokines expression in primary cultured ASM cells. Der p2 activated the MyD88 signaling pathway through toll‐like receptor (TLR) 2, not through TLR4. Notably, Der p2 stimulated ASM cells to increase phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and expression of c‐Fos, which were also important in the T helper type 2 (Th2) immune response. These results suggest that Der p2 induces asthma through the MyD88 signaling pathway in respiratory tissue. J. Cell. Physiol. 220: 311–318, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.