Acta Pharmacologica Sinica 2006 June; 27 (6): 708-714; doi: 10.1111/j.1745-7254.2006.00334.x

 
Original Article
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Passive sensitization increases histamine-stimulated calcium signaling and NF-kB transcription activity in bronchial epithelial cells1
 

Si JIN2,5, Dan TIAN3, Jian-guo CHEN4, Li-ping ZHU2, Sheng-yuan LIU2, Di-xun WANG2

2Department of Pathophysiology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Disease of Ministry of Health of China, Wuhan 430030, China; 3Department of Pathology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; 4Department of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China

 

Aim: To find out if the two aspects of asthma (chronic airway inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness) are related to hypersensitivity of calcium signaling in bronchial epithelial cells.

 

Methods: Porcine bronchial epithelial cells (PBEC) were divided into sensitized (S) and nonsesitized (N) groups. In group S, the cells were preincubated with serum from ovalbumin sensitized guinea pigs. In group N, the cells were preincubated with serum from nonsensitized guinea pigs. Single cell calcium imaging and ELISA-based NF-kB activity were used to evaluate the histamine-stimulated intracellular free calcium level and NF-kB activity, respectively.

 

Results: First, 0.1 µmol/L histamine could induce [Ca2+]i oscillations in PBEC of group S, but not in group N. Second, 1 µmol/L histamine could induce [Ca2+]i oscillations of PBEC in both group S and group N. The [Ca2+]i oscillation frequency of PBEC was significantly higher in group S than in group N, though the [Ca2+]i oscillation amplitude showed no difference between the two groups. Finally, when 10 µmol/L histamine was used to stimulate PBEC, a transient initial increase followed by a sustained elevation (FSE) of [Ca2+]i was observed in PBEC in both groups. The amplitude of the FSE of [Ca2+]i in PBEC was significantly higher in group S than in group N. The subsequent NF-kB activity was in accordance to the calcium oscillation frequency evoked by histamine, but not to the amplitude.


Conclusion:
It was suggested that the increased sensitivity of calcium signaling in bronchial epithelial cells might contribute to the exorbitant inflammation or increased susceptibility in asthmatic airway epithelial cells.

 

Keywords: asthma; histamine; calcium signaling; bronchi; epithelial cell; nuclear factor of kappaB

 
1 Projected supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No 30570793, No 30200099, No 30270351).

5 Correspondence to Dr Si JIN.
Phn 86-27-8369-2625.
E-mail jinsi@mails.tjmu.edu.cn
Received 2005-12-05     Accepted 2006-02-16

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