scholarly journals Adenine Nucleotide Translocase regulates the airway epithelium, mitochondrial metabolism and ciliary function

Author(s):  
Corrine R. Kliment ◽  
Jennifer M. K. Nguyen ◽  
Mary Jane Kaltreider ◽  
YaWen Lu ◽  
Steven M. Claypool ◽  
...  

AbstractAirway hydration and ciliary function are critical to airway homeostasis and dysregulated in chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). COPD is the 4th leading cause of death in the US and is impacted by cigarette smoking with no therapeutic options. We utilized a genetic selection approach in the amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum as a comparative discovery tool in lung biology to identify genetic protectors from cigarette smoke (CS). Adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT), a mitochondrial ADP/ATP transporter, was protective against CS in Dictyostelium and human bronchial epithelial cells. ANT2 gene expression is reduced in lung tissue from COPD patients and in a mouse smoking model. ANT1 and ANT2 overexpression resulted in enhanced oxidative respiration and ATP flux. In addition to ANT’s presence in the mitochondria, ANT1 and ANT2 reside at the plasma membrane in airway epithelial cells and this localization plays a role in how ANTs regulate airway homeostasis. ANT2 overexpression stimulates airway surface liquid hydration by ATP and maintains ciliary beating after CS exposure, which are key functions of the airway. Our study highlights the potential of ANT modulation in protecting from dysfunctional mitochondrial metabolism, airway hydration, and ciliary motility in COPD.

2021 ◽  
Vol 134 (4) ◽  
pp. jcs257162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corrine R. Kliment ◽  
Jennifer M. K. Nguyen ◽  
Mary Jane Kaltreider ◽  
YaWen Lu ◽  
Steven M. Claypool ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTAirway hydration and ciliary function are critical to airway homeostasis and dysregulated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is impacted by cigarette smoking and has no therapeutic options. We utilized a high-copy cDNA library genetic selection approach in the amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum to identify genetic protectors to cigarette smoke. Members of the mitochondrial ADP/ATP transporter family adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) are protective against cigarette smoke in Dictyostelium and human bronchial epithelial cells. Gene expression of ANT2 is reduced in lung tissue from COPD patients and in a mouse smoking model, and overexpression of ANT1 and ANT2 resulted in enhanced oxidative respiration and ATP flux. In addition to the presence of ANT proteins in the mitochondria, they reside at the plasma membrane in airway epithelial cells and regulate airway homeostasis. ANT2 overexpression stimulates airway surface hydration by ATP and maintains ciliary beating after exposure to cigarette smoke, both of which are key functions of the airway. Our study highlights a potential for upregulation of ANT proteins and/or of their agonists in the protection from dysfunctional mitochondrial metabolism, airway hydration and ciliary motility in COPD.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.


2018 ◽  
Vol 314 (3) ◽  
pp. L514-L527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qun Wu ◽  
Di Jiang ◽  
Niccolette R. Schaefer ◽  
Laura Harmacek ◽  
Brian P. O’Connor ◽  
...  

Human rhinovirus (HRV) is the most common virus contributing to acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) nearly year round, but the mechanisms have not been well elucidated. Recent clinical studies suggest that high levels of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) protein in the blood are associated with an increased yearly rate of all-cause COPD exacerbations. Therefore, in the current study, we investigated whether GDF15 promotes HRV infection and virus-induced lung inflammation. We first examined the role of GDF15 in regulating host defense and HRV-induced inflammation using human GDF15 transgenic mice and cultured human GDF15 transgenic mouse tracheal epithelial cells. Next, we determined the effect of GDF15 on viral replication, antiviral responses, and inflammation in human airway epithelial cells with GDF15 knockdown and HRV infection. Finally, we explored the signaling pathways involved in airway epithelial responses to HRV infection in the context of GDF15. Human GDF15 protein overexpression in mice led to exaggerated inflammatory responses to HRV, increased infectious particle release, and decreased IFN-λ2/3 (IL-28A/B) mRNA expression in the lung. Moreover, GDF15 facilitated HRV replication and inflammation via inhibiting IFN-λ1/IL-29 protein production in human airway epithelial cells. Lastly, Smad1 cooperated with interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) to regulate airway epithelial responses to HRV infection partly via GDF15 signaling. Our results reveal a novel function of GDF15 in promoting lung HRV infection and virus-induced inflammation, which may be a new mechanism for the increased susceptibility and severity of respiratory viral (i.e., HRV) infection in cigarette smoke-exposed airways with GDF15 overproduction.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Wark ◽  
Prabuddha Pathinyake ◽  
Gerard Kaiko ◽  
Kristy Nichol ◽  
Ayesha Ali ◽  
...  

Rationale: COVID-19 is complicated by acute lung injury, and death in some individuals. It is caused by SARS-CoV-2 that requires the ACE2 receptor and serine proteases to enter airway epithelial cells (AECs). Objective: To determine what factors are associated with ACE2 expression particularly in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: We obtained upper and lower AECs from 145 people from two independent cohorts, aged 2-89, Newcastle (n=115), and from Perth (n= 30) Australia. The Newcastle cohort was enriched with people with asthma (n=37) and COPD (n=38). Gene expression for ACE2 and other genes potentially associated with SARS-CoV-2 cell entry were assessed by quantitative PCR, protein expression was confirmed with immunohistochemistry on endobronchial biopsies and cultured AECs. Results: Increased gene expression of ACE2 was associated with older age (p=0.02) and male sex (p=0.03), but not pack-years smoked. When we compared gene expression between adults with asthma, COPD and healthy controls, mean ACE2 expression was lower in asthma (p=0.01). Gene expression of furin, a protease that facilitates viral endocytosis, was also lower in asthma (p=0.02), while ADAM-17, a disintegrin that cleaves ACE2 from the surface was increased (p=0.02). ACE2 protein levels were lower in endobronchial biopsies from asthma patients. Conclusions: Increased ACE2 expression occurs in older people and males. Asthma patients have reduced expression. Altered ACE2 expression in the lower airway may be an important factor in virus tropism and may in part explain susceptibility factors and why asthma patients are not over-represented in those with COVID-19 complications.


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