Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2002 Sep;45(9):873-877.

Budesonide Down-regulates IL-1beta-Mediated MUC2/MUC5AC Genes Expression and Mucin Secretion in Human Airway Epithelial Cells

• Kim YD
• Cho JS
• Chang KY
• Sin JH
• Song SY
• Yoon SK

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mucus hypersecretion is a hallmark of many respiratory inflammatory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and sinusitis. While the current therapeutic pharmacological approaches to reducing mucus hypersecretion are limited, clinical studies have suggested that glucocorticoids reduce mucus secretion in patients with airway disease. However, the effect of glucocorticoids on mucus hypersecretion is not clear. Recently, we observed that IL-1beta induces MUC2 gene expression and mucin secretion in a previous experiment. This study was designed to investigate the effects of budesonide on the IL-1beta-mediated MUC2/5AC genes expression and mucin secretion. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We observed the steady state mRNA level of MUC2/5AC genes using RT-PCR and mucin protein using immunoassay method in cultured human airway NCI-H292 epithelial cells.
RESULTS
Budesonide attenuated IL-1beta-mediated MUC2/5AC gene expression as well as mucin secretion. The attenuated effect of budesonide was in a dose-dependent pattern. This attenuated effect of budesonide was blocked by glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, RU-486.
CONCLUSION
This result suggests that budesonide suppresses the IL-1beta-mediated MUC2/5AC genes expression and mucin secretion via blockage of glucocorticoid receptor.

Keyword

Interleukin-1beta; MUC2; MUC5AC; Mucin; Budesonide

MeSH Terms

Asthma
Bronchitis
Budesonide*
Epithelial Cells*
Gene Expression
Glucocorticoids
Humans*
Immunoassay
Interleukin-1beta
Mifepristone
Mucins*
Mucus
Receptors, Glucocorticoid
RNA, Messenger
Sinusitis
Budesonide
Glucocorticoids
Interleukin-1beta
Mifepristone
Mucins
RNA, Messenger
Receptors, Glucocorticoid