Regulatory mechanisms of Th2 cytokine-induced eotaxin-3 production in bronchial epithelial cells:: possible role of interleukin 4 receptor and nuclear factor-κB

Background: Several cytokine combinations have been shown to induce eotaxins in bronchial epithelium. The mechanism for differential regulation of eotaxin expression remains unclear. Objective: To investigate the regulatory mechanisms of eotaxin-3 production vs eotaxin-1 production in cultured bronchial epithelium. Methods: Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of eotaxin-1, eotaxin-2, and eotaxin-3 in a human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B) and a normal human bronchial epithelial cell were examined using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Protein production was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Receptor expression was examined by flow cytometry. Phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 6 (STAT6) was examined by immunoblotting. Results: Eotaxin-1 and eotaxin-3, but not eotaxin-2, mRNA expressions were induced by stimulation with interleukin (IL) 13 or IL-4. However, eotaxin-3 was the only protein detected after stimulation. A consistent 10-fold difference in the potency of IL-13- and IL-4-mediated induction of eotaxin-3 mRNA expression was observed. Interleukin 4 induced more potent induction of STAT6 phosphorylation compared with IL-13. The BEAS-2B cells were observed to express types I and 2 IL-4 receptors. Pretreatment with tumor necrosis factor a enhanced IL-4-induced eotaxin-1, but not eotaxin-3, mRNA expression. An inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappaB inhibited IL-13- and IL-4-induced eotaxin-1 gene expressions. However, it enhanced eotaxin-3 gene expression. Conclusions: These results suggest that differences in the potency of IL-13- and IL-4-mediated induction of eotaxin-3 might be explained by expression of types I and 2 IL-4 receptors in bronchial epithelium. Differences in eotaxin-1 and eotaxin-3 mRNA and protein expression might be due to differential effects of nuclear factor-kappaB on gene expression.