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National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 4(108), p. 1579-1584, 2011

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1014241108

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T-helper cell type 2 (Th2) memory T cell-potentiating cytokine IL-25 has the potential to promote angiogenesis in asthma

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

IL-25 (IL-17E) is a T-helper cell type 2 (Th2) cytokine best described as a potentiator of Th2 memory responses. Reports of expression of its receptor, IL-25R, on airways structural cells suggest a wider role for IL-25 in remodeling. We hypothesized that IL-25 stimulates local angiogenesis in the asthmatic bronchial mucosa. Immunoreactive IL-25 + , IL-25R + , and CD31 + (endothelial) cells in sections of bronchial biopsies from asthmatics and controls were detected by immunohistochemistry. The effect of IL-25 on angiogenesis was examined using an in vitro assay. Real-time PCR was used to detect expression of IL-25R and VEGF mRNA in cultured human vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC), and a cell proliferation kit (WST-8) was used to measure the effect of IL-25 on HUVEC proliferation. Immunostaining showed that IL-25 + , IL-25R + , and CD31 + /IL-25R + cells were significantly elevated in the bronchial mucosa of asthmatics compared with controls ( P < 0.003). In asthmatics, the numbers of IL-25 + cells correlated inversely with the forced expiratory volume in 1 s ( r = −0.639; P = 0.01). In vitro, HUVEC constitutively expressed IL-25R, which was up-regulated further by TNF-α. IL-25 and TNF-α also increased expression of VEGF and VEGF receptors. IL-25 increased HUVEC proliferation and the number, length, and area of microvessel structures in a concentration-dependent manner in vitro. VEGF blockade, the PI3K-specific inhibitor LY294002, and the MAPK/ERK1/2 (MEK1/2)-specific inhibitor U0126 all markedly attenuated IL-25–induced angiogenesis, and the inhibitors also reduced IL-25–induced proliferation and VEGF expression. Our findings suggest that IL-25 is elevated in asthma and contributes to angiogenesis, at least partly by increasing endothelial cell VEGF/VEGF receptor expression through PI3K/Akt and Erk/MAPK pathways.