Korean J Pediatr.  2006 Sep;49(9):977-982. 10.3345/kjp.2006.49.9.977.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae-induced production of proasthmatic mediators in airway epithelium

• Kim KW
• Lee BC
• Lee KE
• Kim ES
• Song TW
• Park MY
• Sohn MH
• Kim KE

• KMID: 2278532
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2006.49.9.977

Abstract

PURPOSE: There has been an increasing amount of literature concerning the association between Mycoplasma pneumoniae and asthma pathogenesis. Interleukin(IL)-6 stimulates the differentiation of monocytes, and can promote Th2 differentiation and simultaneously inhibit Th1 polarization. IL-8 is a potent chemoattractant and, it has been suggested, has a role in asthma pathogenesis. Nitric oxide (NO) synthesized by airway epithelium may be important in the regulation of airway inflammation and reactivity. Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) has been reported to be a mediator of airway remodeling in asthma. We investigated the effects of M. pneumoniae on IL-6, IL-8, NO and VEGF production in human respiratory epithelial cells.
METHODS
A549 cells were cultured and inoculated with M. pneumoniae at a dose of 20 cfu/cell. After infection, the presence of M. pneumoniae in epithelial cell cultures was monitored by immunofluorescence and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) detection. IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. NO was measured using the standard Griess reaction.
RESULTS
In A549 cells, M. pneumoniaeinduced IL-6, IL-8, NO and VEGF release in time-dependent manners. It also induced mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF in similar manners.
CONCLUSION
These observations suggest that M. pneumoniae might have a role in the pathogenesis of the allergic inflammation of bronchial asthma.

Keyword

Epithelial cells; Interleukin-6; Interleukin-8; Nitric oxide; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Mycoplasma pneumoniae

MeSH Terms

Airway Remodeling
Asthma
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Epithelial Cells
Epithelium*
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
Humans
Inflammation
Interleukin-6
Interleukin-8
Monocytes
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Mycoplasma*
Nitric Oxide
Pneumonia
Pneumonia, Mycoplasma
RNA, Messenger
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Interleukin-6
Interleukin-8
Nitric Oxide
RNA, Messenger
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A