Ex vivo assay to evaluate the efficacy of drugs targeting sphingolipids in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection of nasal epithelial cells

ABSTRACTThe mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) causes severe central nervous system diseases and cycles betweenCulexmosquitoes and different vertebrates. For JEV and some other flaviviruses, oronasal transmission is described, but the mode of infection is unknown. Using nasal mucosal tissue explants and primary porcine nasal epithelial cells (NEC) at the air-liquid interface (ALI) and macrophages asex vivoandin vitromodels, we determined that the nasal epithelium could represent the route of entry and exit for JEV in pigs. Porcine NEC at the ALI exposed to with JEV resulted in apical and basolateral virus shedding and release of monocyte recruiting chemokines, indicating infection and replication in macrophages. Moreover, macrophages stimulated by alarmins, including interleukin-25, interleukin-33, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin, were more permissive to the JEV infection. Altogether, our data are important to understand the mechanism of non-vector-borne direct transmission of Japanese encephalitis virus in pigs.IMPORTANCEJEV, a main cause of severe viral encephalitis in humans, has a complex ecology composed of a mosquito-waterbird cycle and a cycle involving pigs, which amplifies virus transmission to mosquitoes, leading to increased human cases. JEV can be transmitted between pigs by contact in the absence of arthropod vectors. Moreover, virus or viral RNA is found in oronasal secretions and the nasal epithelium. Using nasal mucosa tissue explants and three-dimensional porcine nasal epithelial cells cultures and macrophages asex vivoandin vitromodels, we determined that the nasal epithelium could be a route of entry as well as exit for the virus. Infection of nasal epithelial cells resulted in apical and basolateral virus shedding and release of monocyte recruiting chemokines and therefore infection and replication in macrophages, which is favored by epithelial-cell-derived cytokines. The results are relevant to understand the mechanism of non-vector-borne direct transmission of JEV.

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Elevated microRNA-21 Is a Brake of Inflammation Involved in the Development of Nasal Polyps

Frontiers in Immunology ◽

10.3389/fimmu.2021.530488 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Ruowu Liu ◽

Jintao Du ◽

Jiao Zhou ◽

Bing Zhong ◽

Luo Ba ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Epithelial Cells ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Luciferase Reporter ◽

Reporter System ◽

Nasal Epithelial Cells ◽

Protein Levels ◽

Control Subjects ◽

Luciferase Reporter System ◽

Suppressive Cytokine

BackgroundCRSwNP is an inflammatory disease but the mechanism is not yet fully understood. MiR-21, a member of miRNAs, has been reported to play roles in mediating inflammation. However, the expression of miR-21 and its role in patients with CRSwNP remain elusive.MethodsTurbinates from control subjects, uncinate processes from CRSsNP, polyp tissues from CRSwNP, and nasal epithelial cells brushed from nasal mucosa were collected. The expression of miR-21 and cytokines in nasal tissues and epithelial cells were detected by qPCR. The localization of miR-21 was detected by ISH, and its target was identified by bioinformation analysis, qPCR, IHC, WB, and luciferase reporter system. The protein and mRNA of PDCD4 and NF-κB P65 were determined by WB and qPCR after miR-21 transfection in HNEpC. The role of miR-21 on cytokines was analyzed in HNEpC and nasal polyp explants.ResultsMiR-21 was upregulated in CRSwNP relative to control subjects by qPCR, which was determined mainly in nasal epithelial cells of CRSwNP by ISH. Both pro-inflammation cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-25, and TSLP) and a suppressive cytokine (IL-10) were overexpressed in the epithelial cells of CRSwNP. The expression of miR-21 was positively correlated with IL-10 and negatively correlated with IL-6, IL-8, IL-33, and TSLP in the epithelial cells of CRSwNP. As a potential target of miR-21, the expression of PDCD4 was negatively correlated with miR-21 in CRSwNP. In HNEpC, miR-21 could reduce the expression of PDCD4 at both mRNA and protein levels, and bioinformation analysis and luciferase reporter system confirmed PDCD4 as one target of miR-21. Furthermore, miR-21 could decrease the activation of NF-κB and increase IL-10 mRNA. Both SEB and LPS could elevate miR-21, with IL-25, IL-33, TSLP induced by SEB and IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 induced by LPS, while the miR-21 could regulate the expression of IL-33, TSLP, IL-1β, IL- 6 and IL-8 in vitro and ex vivo. Clinically, miR-21 expression was inversely correlated with the Lund-Mackay CT scores and the Lund-Kennedy scores in CRSwNP.ConclusionMiR-21 could be a prominent negative feedback factor in the inflammation process to attenuate the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, thereby playing an anti-inflammation role in CRSwNP.

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SARS-CoV-2 infections in nasal epithelial cells from smokers versus non-smokers

10.1101/2021.04.28.21255760 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Manel Essaidi-Laziosi ◽

Giulia Torriani ◽

Catia Alvarez ◽

Laurent Kaiser ◽

Isabella Eckerle

Keyword(s):

Epithelial Cells ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Nasal Epithelial Cells ◽

Epithelial Tissues

SummaryWhether smoking exacerbates Coronavirus disease 2019 is still debated. Ex-vivo Infection of reconstituted epithelial tissues from smoker versus non-smoker donors suggested comparable susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 in epithelia from both groups.

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Asian Sand Dust Regulates IL-32 Production in Airway Epithelial Cells: Inhibitory Effect of Glucocorticoids

American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy ◽

10.1177/1945892419839538 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. 403-412 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jae-Min Shin ◽

Hwee-Jin Kim ◽

Joo-Hoo Park ◽

You Jin Hwang ◽

Heung-Man Lee

Keyword(s):

Epithelial Cells ◽

Signaling Pathways ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

A549 Cells ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Airway Epithelial Cells ◽

Airway Epithelial ◽

Organ Cultures ◽

Nasal Epithelial Cells ◽

Asian Sand Dust

Purpose Epidemiologic studies have reported that Asian sand dust (ASD) is associated with chronic inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system. Glucocorticoids (GCs) have potent anti-inflammatory properties. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of GCs on ASD-induced interleukin-32 (IL-32) expression and to identify the underlying signaling pathways in airway epithelial cells. Methods A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was used to evaluate cytotoxicity in A549 and human primary nasal epithelial cells. Expression levels of IL-32 messenger RNA and protein were measured by Western blot, real-time polymerase chain reaction, ELISA, and immunofluorescence staining. Signaling pathways were analyzed using specific inhibitors of Akt, MAPK, or NF- κB. The effects of GCs on the expression of ASD-induced IL-32 were confirmed with ex vivo organ cultures of the nasal interior turbinate. Results ASD (0–400 ng/mL) had no significant cytotoxic effects in A549 cells and human primary nasal epithelial cells. Expression levels of IL-32 were dose-dependently upregulated by ASD treatment in A549 cells. ASD induced phosphorylation of Akt, MAPK, and NF-κB, whereas GCs and specific inhibitors of Akt, MAPK, and NF-κB downregulated these activations and the expression of IL-32. These findings were further confirmed in human primary nasal epithelial cells and ex vivo organ cultures of the nasal interior turbinate. Conclusions GCs have an inhibitory effect on ASD-induced IL-32 expression via the Akt, MAPK, and NF- κB signaling pathways in airway epithelial cells.

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House Dust Mite Exposure Causes Increased Susceptibility of Nasal Epithelial Cells to Adenovirus Infection

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v12101151 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 1151

Author(s):

Malik Aydin ◽

Ella A. Naumova ◽

Friedrich Paulsen ◽

Wenli Zhang ◽

Felix Gopon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Culture ◽

Epithelial Cells ◽

House Dust ◽

House Dust Mite ◽

Fluorescent Protein ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Study Cohort ◽

Nasal Epithelial Cells ◽

Dust Mite ◽

The Impact

Adenovirus (AdV) infections in the respiratory tract may cause asthma exacerbation and allergic predisposition, and the house dust mite (HDM) may aggravate virus-induced asthma exacerbations. However, the underlying mechanisms of whether and how AdV affects asthmatic patients remains unclear. To address this question, we investigated nasal epithelial cells (NAEPCs) derived from a pediatric exacerbation study cohort for experimental analyses. We analyzed twenty-one different green-fluorescent protein- and luciferase-tagged AdV types in submerged 2D and organotypic 3D cell culture models. Transduction experiments revealed robust transduction of AdV type 5 (AdV5) in NAEPCs, which was associated with an increased uptake of AdV5 in the presence of HDM. In healthy and asthmatic NAEPCs exposed to HDM before infection, we observed a time- and dose-dependent increase of AdV5 uptake associated with upregulation of entry receptors for AdV5. Furthermore, electron microscopic and histologic analyses of 3D cell cultures revealed an impairment of the respiratory cilia after HDM exposition. This ex vivo pilot study shows the impact of AdV infection and HDM exposition in a primary cell culture model for asthma.

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A Comparative Ex Vivo Study of Plasminogen Activators and Proteases for Fibrinolytic Activity and Side Effects in Rabbits

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1649213 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 37 (01) ◽

pp. 154-161 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

B. A Janik ◽

S. E Papaioannou

Keyword(s):

Side Effects ◽

Effective Dose ◽

Fibrinolytic Activity ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Plasminogen Activators ◽

Assay System ◽

Coagulation Parameters ◽

Ex Vivo Assay

SummaryUrokinase, streptokinase, Brinase, trypsin, and SN 687, a bacterial exoprotease, have been evaluated in an ex vivo assay system. These enzymes were injected into rabbits and the fibrinolytic activity as well as other coagulation parameters were measured by in vitro techniques. Dose-response correlations have been made using the euglobulin lysis time as a measure of fibrinolytic activity and the 50% effective dose has been determined for each enzyme. Loading doses, equal to four times the 50% effective dose, were administered to monitor potential toxicity revealing that Brinase, trypsin, and SN 687 were very toxic at this concentration.Having established the 50% effective dose for each enzyme, further testing was conducted where relevant fibrinolytic and coagulation parameters were measured for up to two days following a 50% effective dose bolus injection of each enzyme. Our results have demonstrated that urokinase and streptokinase are plasminogen activators specifically activating the rabbit fibrinolytic system while Brinase, trypsin and SN 687 increase the general proteolytic activity in vivo.The advantages of this ex vivo assay system for evaluating relative fibrinolytic potencies and side effects for plasminogen activators and fibrinolytic proteases have been discussed.

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