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McLean SA, Cullen L, Gardam DJ, Schofield CJ, Laucirica DR, Sutanto EN, Ling KM, Stick SM, Peacock CS, Kicic A, Garratt LW. Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus Induce Similar Muco-inflammatory Responses in Primary Airway Epithelial Cells. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10081020. [PMID: 34451484 PMCID: PMC8399118 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10081020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus is increasingly associated with lung inflammation and mucus plugging in early cystic fibrosis (CF) disease during which conidia burden is low and strains appear to be highly diverse. It is unknown whether clinical Aspergillus strains vary in their capacity to induce epithelial inflammation and mucus production. We tested the hypothesis that individual colonising strains of Aspergillus fumigatus would induce different responses. Ten paediatric CF Aspergillus isolates were compared along with two systemically invasive clinical isolates and an ATCC reference strain. Isolates were first characterised by ITS gene sequencing and screened for antifungal susceptibility. Three clusters (A-C) of Aspergillus isolates were identified by ITS. Antifungal susceptibility was variable, particularly for itraconazole. Submerged CF and non-CF monolayers as well as differentiated primary airway epithelial cell cultures were incubated with conidia for 24 h to allow germination. None of the clinical isolates were found to significantly differ from one another in either IL-6 or IL-8 release or gene expression of secretory mucins. Clinical Aspergillus isolates appear to be largely homogenous in their mucostimulatory and immunostimulatory capacities and, therefore, only the antifungal resistance characteristics are likely to be clinically important.
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McNally P, Butler D, Karpievitch YV, Linnane B, Ranganathan S, Stick SM, Hall GL, Schultz A. Ivacaftor and Airway Inflammation in Preschool Children with Cystic Fibrosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2021; 204:605-608. [PMID: 34077699 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202012-4332le] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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Wark PAB, Pathinayake PS, Kaiko G, Nichol K, Ali A, Chen L, Sutanto EN, Garratt LW, Sohal SS, Lu W, Eapen MS, Oldmeadow C, Bartlett N, Reid A, Veerati P, Hsu ACY, Looi K, Iosifidis T, Stick SM, Hansbro PM, Kicic A. ACE2 expression is elevated in airway epithelial cells from older and male healthy individuals but reduced in asthma. Respirology 2021; 26:442-451. [PMID: 33455043 PMCID: PMC8014151 DOI: 10.1111/resp.14003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE 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 AEC. We determined what factors are associated with ACE2 expression particularly in patients with asthma and COPD. METHODS We obtained lower AEC from 145 people from two independent cohorts, aged 2-89 years, Newcastle (n = 115) and 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 was assessed by qPCR, and protein expression was confirmed with immunohistochemistry on endobronchial biopsies and cultured AEC. RESULTS Increased gene expression of ACE2 was associated with older age (P = 0.03) and male sex (P = 0.03), but not with pack-years smoked. When we compared gene expression between adults with asthma, COPD and healthy controls, mean ACE2 expression was lower in asthma patients (P = 0.01). Gene expression of furin, a protease that facilitates viral endocytosis, was also lower in patients with asthma (P = 0.02), while ADAM-17, a disintegrin that cleaves ACE2 from the surface, was increased (P = 0.02). ACE2 protein expression was also reduced in endobronchial biopsies from asthma patients. CONCLUSION 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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Ng RN, Tai AS, Chang BJ, Stick SM, Kicic A. Overcoming Challenges to Make Bacteriophage Therapy Standard Clinical Treatment Practice for Cystic Fibrosis. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:593988. [PMID: 33505366 PMCID: PMC7829477 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.593988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) are given antimicrobials as prophylaxis against bacterial lung infection, which contributes to the growing emergence of multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens isolated. Pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa that are commonly isolated from individuals with CF are armed with an arsenal of protective and virulence mechanisms, complicating eradication and treatment strategies. While translation of phage therapy into standard care for CF has been explored, challenges such as the lack of an appropriate animal model demonstrating safety in vivo exist. In this review, we have discussed and provided some insights in the use of primary airway epithelial cells to represent the mucoenvironment of the CF lungs to demonstrate safety and efficacy of phage therapy. The combination of phage therapy and antimicrobials is gaining attention and has the potential to delay the onset of MDR infections. It is evident that efforts to translate phage therapy into standard clinical practice have gained traction in the past 5 years. Ultimately, collaboration, transparency in data publications and standardized policies are needed for clinical translation.
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Shanthikumar S, Stick SM, Ranganathan SC. Minimal structural lung disease in early life represents significant pathology. J Cyst Fibros 2020; 20:e118-e120. [PMID: 33358120 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcf.2020.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Puvvadi R, Mikkelsen H, McCahon L, Grogan S, Ditcham W, Reid DW, Lamont I, Stick SM, Clements B. Role of Tris-CaEDTA as an adjuvant with nebulised tobramycin in cystic fibrosis patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections: A randomised controlled trial. J Cyst Fibros 2020; 20:316-323. [PMID: 33341406 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcf.2020.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We tested if disrupting iron utilisation by P. aeruginosa by adding the Tris-buffered chelating agent CaEDTA to nebulised tobramycin would enhance bacterial clearance and improve lung function in CF patients. METHODS In this double-blind, randomised controlled trial, 26 episodes (25 patients) with P. aeruginosa infection admitted to two CF centres for treatment of an acute pulmonary exacerbation were randomly assigned to receive either 75 mg CaEDTA in Tris-buffered saline or placebo (Tris-buffered saline) nebulised in combination with 250 mg tobramycin twice daily for six weeks followed with four week safety follow-up. Primary endpoints were safety, tolerability, and bacterial density of P. aeruginosa. A secondary endpoint was lung function. RESULTS The study drug was well tolerated with adverse events comparable in both groups. The mean (SD) reduction in sputum P. aeruginosa count (log10 CFU/g) in the CaEDTA vs placebo group was 2·05 (2·57) vs 0·82 (2·71) at two weeks relative to admission (p = 0·39). The mean improvement in ppFEV1 was 16 vs 5 (p = 0·16); 11 vs 2 (p = 0·28); and 6 vs 2 percentage points (p = 0·47) at two, six, and ten weeks in CaEDTA and placebo groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS In this pilot study in CF patients, an increase in the reduction of sputum density of P. aeruginosa and an increase in ppFEV1 was observed in the group of patients who received Tris-CaEDTA added to inhaled tobramycin compared to the group who received inhaled tobramycin alone, although these differences were not statistically significant. The treatment was also shown to be safe.
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Ishak A, Stick SM, Turkovic L, Ranganathan SC, King L, Harrison J, Sly PD, Caudri D, Schultz A. BAL Inflammatory Markers Can Predict Pulmonary Exacerbations in Children With Cystic Fibrosis. Chest 2020; 158:2314-2322. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2020.06.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
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Montgomery ST, Stick SM, Kicic A. An adapted novel flow cytometry methodology to delineate types of cell death in airway epithelial cells. J Biol Methods 2020; 7:e139. [PMID: 33204742 PMCID: PMC7666329 DOI: 10.14440/jbm.2020.336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Current methodologies to measure apoptotic and necrotic cell death using flow cytometry do not adequately differentiate between the two. Here, we describe a flow cytometry methodology adapted to airway epithelial cells (AEC) to sufficiently differentiate apoptotic and necrotic AEC. Specifically, cell lines and primary AEC (n = 12) were permeabilized or infected with rhinovirus 1b (RV1b) over 48 h. Cell death was then measured via annexin V/propidium iodide (A5/PI) or annexin V/TO-PRO-3 (A5/TP3) staining using a novel flow cytometry and gating methodology adapted to AEC. We show that A5/PI staining could not sufficiently differentiate between types of cell death following RV1b infection of primary AEC. However, A5/TP3 staining was able to distinguish six cell death populations (viable, necrotic, debris, A5+ apoptotic, A5– apoptotic, apoptotic bodies) after permeabilization or infection with RV1b, with phenotypic differences were observed in apoptotic populations. Collectively, using a staining and gating strategy never adapted to AEC, A5/TP3 could accurately differentiate and quantify viable, necrotic, and apoptotic AEC following RV1b infection.
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Flynn S, Reen FJ, Caparrós-Martín JA, Woods DF, Peplies J, Ranganathan SC, Stick SM, O’Gara F. Bile Acid Signal Molecules Associate Temporally with Respiratory Inflammation and Microbiome Signatures in Clinically Stable Cystic Fibrosis Patients. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8111741. [PMID: 33172004 PMCID: PMC7694639 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8111741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a congenital disorder resulting in a multisystemic impairment in ion homeostasis. The subsequent alteration of electrochemical gradients severely compromises the function of the airway epithelia. These functional changes are accompanied by recurrent cycles of inflammation–infection that progressively lead to pulmonary insufficiency. Recent developments have pointed to the existence of a gut–lung axis connection, which may modulate the progression of lung disease. Molecular signals governing the interplay between these two organs are therefore candidate molecules requiring further clinical evaluation as potential biomarkers. We demonstrate a temporal association between bile acid (BA) metabolites and inflammatory markers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from clinically stable children with CF. By modelling the BALF-associated microbial communities, we demonstrate that profiles enriched in operational taxonomic units assigned to supraglottic taxa and opportunistic pathogens are closely associated with inflammatory biomarkers. Applying regression analyses, we also confirmed a linear link between BA concentration and pathogen abundance in BALF. Analysis of the time series data suggests that the continuous detection of BAs in BALF is linked to differential ecological succession trajectories of the lung microbiota. Our data provide further evidence supporting a role for BAs in the early pathogenesis and progression of CF lung disease.
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Douglas TA, Pooley JA, Shields L, Stick SM, Branch-Smith C. Early disease surveillance in young children with cystic fibrosis: A qualitative analysis of parent experiences. J Cyst Fibros 2020; 20:511-515. [PMID: 33268308 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcf.2020.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sensitive measures of early lung disease are being integrated into therapeutic trials and clinical practice in cystic fibrosis (CF). The impact of early disease surveillance (EDS) using these novel and often intensive techniques on young children and their families is not well researched. METHODS The Australian Respiratory Early Surveillance Team for Cystic Fibrosis (AREST CF) has operated a combined clinical and research early disease surveillance program, based around annual chest CT scan, bronchoscopy and lung function from newborn screening diagnosis until age 6 years, for over two-decades. To explore parental experiences of EDS in their child, a qualitative study was conducted using audio-recorded, semi-structured interviews in n=46 mothers and n=21 fathers of children (aged 3-months to six years) attending CF centres in Perth and Melbourne, Australia. Themes were developed iteratively using thematic analysis and assessed for validity and confirmability. RESULTS Parents' experiences were positive overall; affording a sense of control over CF, disease knowledge, and belief that EDS was in the best interests of their child. Challenges included poor understanding about EDS measures leading to anxiety and distress, self-blame surrounding adverse findings, and emotional burden of surveillance visits. Tailored information regarding the practical and psychosocial aspects of EDS were endorsed. CONCLUSION While experiences were generally positive there is need for information and psychosocial support for parents to mitigate anxiety and develop positive coping strategies surrounding surveillance procedures and results. Managing expectations regarding risks and benefits of disease surveillance in clinical and research settings are important aspects of care.
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Saladié M, Caparrós-Martín JA, Agudelo-Romero P, Wark PAB, Stick SM, O'Gara F. Microbiomic Analysis on Low Abundant Respiratory Biomass Samples; Improved Recovery of Microbial DNA From Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:572504. [PMID: 33123104 PMCID: PMC7573210 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.572504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years the study of the commensal microbiota is driving a remarkable paradigm shift in our understanding of human physiology. However, intrinsic technical difficulties associated with investigating the Microbiomics of some body niches are hampering the development of new knowledge. This is particularly the case when investigating the functional role played by the human microbiota in modulating the physiology of key organ systems. A major hurdle in investigating specific Microbiome communities is linked to low bacterial density and susceptibility to bias caused by environmental contamination. To prevent such inaccuracies due to background processing noise, harmonized tools for Microbiomic and bioinformatics practices have been recommended globally. The fact that the impact of this undesirable variability is negatively correlated with the DNA concentration in the sample highlights the necessity to improve existing DNA isolation protocols. In this report, we developed and tested a protocol to more efficiently recover bacterial DNA from low volumes of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained from infants and adults. We have compared the efficiency of the described method with that of a commercially available kit for microbiome analysis in body fluids. We show that this new methodological approach performs better in terms of extraction efficiency. As opposed to commercial kits, the DNA extracts obtained with this new protocol were clearly distinguishable from the negative extraction controls in terms of 16S copy number and Microbiome community profiles. Altogether, we described a cost-efficient protocol that can facilitate microbiome research in low-biomass human niches.
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Ling KM, Garratt LW, Gill EE, Lee AHY, Agudelo-Romero P, Sutanto EN, Iosifidis T, Rosenow T, Turvey SE, Lassmann T, Hancock REW, Kicic A, Stick SM. Rhinovirus Infection Drives Complex Host Airway Molecular Responses in Children With Cystic Fibrosis. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1327. [PMID: 32765492 PMCID: PMC7378398 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Early-life viral infections are responsible for pulmonary exacerbations that can contribute to disease progression in young children with cystic fibrosis (CF). The most common respiratory viruses detected in the CF airway are human rhinoviruses (RV), and augmented airway inflammation in CF has been attributed to dysregulated airway epithelial responses although evidence has been conflicting. Here, we exposed airway epithelial cells from children with and without CF to RV in vitro. Using RNA-Seq, we profiled the transcriptomic differences of CF and non-CF airway epithelial cells at baseline and in response to RV. There were only modest differences between CF and non-CF cells at baseline. In response to RV, there were 1,442 and 896 differentially expressed genes in CF and non-CF airway epithelial cells, respectively. The core antiviral responses in CF and non-CF airway epithelial cells were mediated through interferon signaling although type 1 and 3 interferon signaling, when measured, were reduced in CF airway epithelial cells following viral challenge consistent with previous reports. The transcriptional responses in CF airway epithelial cells were more complex than in non-CF airway epithelial cells with diverse over-represented biological pathways, such as cytokine signaling and metabolic and biosynthetic pathways. Network analysis highlighted that the differentially expressed genes of CF airway epithelial cells' transcriptional responses were highly interconnected and formed a more complex network than observed in non-CF airway epithelial cells. We corroborate observations in fully differentiated air–liquid interface (ALI) cultures, identifying genes involved in IL-1 signaling and mucin glycosylation that are only dysregulated in the CF airway epithelial response to RV infection. These data provide novel insights into the CF airway epithelial cells' responses to RV infection and highlight potential pathways that could be targeted to improve antiviral and anti-inflammatory responses in CF.
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De Jong E, Garratt LW, Looi K, Lee AHY, Ling KM, Smith ML, Falsafi R, Sutanto EN, Hillas J, Iosifidis T, Martinovich KM, Shaw NC, Montgomery ST, Kicic-Starcevich E, Lannigan FJ, Vijayasekaran S, Hancock REW, Stick SM, Kicic A, Arest CF. Ivacaftor or lumacaftor/ivacaftor treatment does not alter the core CF airway epithelial gene response to rhinovirus. J Cyst Fibros 2020; 20:97-105. [PMID: 32684439 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcf.2020.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aberrant responses by the cystic fibrosis airway epithelium during viral infection may underly the clinical observations. Whether CFTR modulators affect antiviral responses by CF epithelia is presently unknown. We tested the hypothesis that treatment of CF epithelial cells with ivacaftor (Iva) or ivacaftor/lumacaftor (Iva/Lum) would improve control of rhinovirus infection. METHODS Nineteen CF epithelial cultures (10 homozygous for p.Phe508del as CFTR Class 2, 9 p.Phe508del/p.Gly551Asp as Class 3) were infected with rhinovirus 1B at multiplicity of infection 12 for 24 h. Culture RNA and supernatants were harvested to assess gene and protein expression respectively. RESULTS RNA-seq analysis comparing rhinovirus infected cultures to control identified 796 and 629 differentially expressed genes for Class 2 and Class 3, respectively. This gene response was highly conserved when cells were treated with CFTR modulators and were predicted to be driven by the same interferon-pathway transcriptional regulators (IFNA, IFNL1, IFNG, IRF7, STAT1). Direct comparisons between treated and untreated infected cultures did not yield any differentially expressed genes for Class 3 and only 68 genes for Class 2. Changes were predominantly related to regulators of lipid metabolism and inflammation, aspects of epithelial biology known to be dysregulated in CF. In addition, CFTR modulators did not affect viral copy number, or levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines produced post-infection. CONCLUSIONS Though long-term clinical data is not yet available, results presented here suggest that first generation CFTR modulators do not interfere with core airway epithelial responses to rhinovirus infection. Future work should investigate the latest triple modulation therapies.
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Reid AT, Nichol KS, Chander Veerati P, Moheimani F, Kicic A, Stick SM, Bartlett NW, Grainge CL, Wark PAB, Hansbro PM, Knight DA. Blocking Notch3 Signaling Abolishes MUC5AC Production in Airway Epithelial Cells from Individuals with Asthma. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2020; 62:513-523. [PMID: 31922915 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2019-0069oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In asthma, goblet cell numbers are increased within the airway epithelium, perpetuating the production of mucus that is more difficult to clear and results in airway mucus plugging. Notch1, Notch2, or Notch3, or a combination of these has been shown to influence the differentiation of airway epithelial cells. How the expression of specific Notch isoforms differs in fully differentiated adult asthmatic epithelium and whether Notch influences mucin production after differentiation is currently unknown. We aimed to quantify different Notch isoforms in the airway epithelium of individuals with severe asthma and to examine the impact of Notch signaling on mucin MUC5AC. Human lung sections and primary bronchial epithelial cells from individuals with and without asthma were used in this study. Primary bronchial epithelial cells were differentiated at the air-liquid interface for 28 days. Notch isoform expression was analyzed by Taqman quantitative PCR. Immunohistochemistry was used to localize and quantify Notch isoforms in human airway sections. Notch signaling was inhibited in vitro using dibenzazepine or Notch3-specific siRNA, followed by analysis of MUC5AC. NOTCH3 was highly expressed in asthmatic airway epithelium compared with nonasthmatic epithelium. Dibenzazepine significantly reduced MUC5AC production in air-liquid interface cultures of primary bronchial epithelial cells concomitantly with suppression of NOTCH3 intracellular domain protein. Specific knockdown using NOTCH3 siRNA recapitulated the dibenzazepine-induced reduction in MUC5AC. We demonstrate that NOTCH3 is a regulator of MUC5AC production. Increased NOTCH3 signaling in the asthmatic airway epithelium may therefore be an underlying driver of excess MUC5AC production.
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Breuer O, Schultz A, Turkovic L, de Klerk N, Keil AD, Brennan S, Harrison J, Robertson C, Robinson PJ, Sly PD, Ranganathan S, Stick SM, Caudri D. Reply to Turnbull et al. and to Hulme et al.. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2020; 201:750-752. [PMID: 31769999 PMCID: PMC7068835 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201911-2213le] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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Esther CR, Muhlebach MS, Ehre C, Hill DB, Wolfgang MC, Kesimer M, Ramsey KA, Markovetz MR, Garbarine IC, Forest MG, Seim I, Zorn B, Morrison CB, Delion MF, Thelin WR, Villalon D, Sabater JR, Turkovic L, Ranganathan S, Stick SM, Boucher RC. Mucus accumulation in the lungs precedes structural changes and infection in children with cystic fibrosis. Sci Transl Med 2020; 11:11/486/eaav3488. [PMID: 30944166 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aav3488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Although destructive airway disease is evident in young children with cystic fibrosis (CF), little is known about the nature of the early CF lung environment triggering the disease. To elucidate early CF pulmonary pathophysiology, we performed mucus, inflammation, metabolomic, and microbiome analyses on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from 46 preschool children with CF enrolled in the Australian Respiratory Early Surveillance Team for Cystic Fibrosis (AREST CF) program and 16 non-CF disease controls. Total airway mucins were elevated in CF compared to non-CF BALF irrespective of infection, and higher densities of mucus flakes containing mucin 5B and mucin 5AC were observed in samples from CF patients. Total mucins and mucus flakes correlated with inflammation, hypoxia, and oxidative stress. Many CF BALFs appeared sterile by culture and molecular analyses, whereas other samples exhibiting bacterial taxa associated with the oral cavity. Children without computed tomography-defined structural lung disease exhibited elevated BALF mucus flakes and neutrophils, but little/no bacterial infection. Although CF mucus flakes appeared "permanent" because they did not dissolve in dilute BALF matrix, they could be solubilized by a previously unidentified reducing agent (P2062), but not N-acetylcysteine or deoxyribonuclease. These findings indicate that early CF lung disease is characterized by an increased mucus burden and inflammatory markers without infection or structural lung disease and suggest that mucolytic and anti-inflammatory agents should be explored as preventive therapy.
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Oudraad MCJ, Kuo W, Rosenow T, Andrinopoulou ER, Stick SM, Tiddens HAWM. Assessment of early lung disease in young children with CF: A comparison between pressure-controlled and free-breathing chest computed tomography. Pediatr Pulmonol 2020; 55:1161-1168. [PMID: 32119198 PMCID: PMC7187326 DOI: 10.1002/ppul.24702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chest computed tomography (CT) in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) is sensitive in detecting early airways disease. The pressure-controlled CT-protocol combines a total lung capacity scan (TLC PC-CT) with a near functional residual capacity scan (FRC PC-CT) under general anesthesia, while another CT-protocol is acquired during free breathing (FB-CT) near functional residual capacity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity in detecting airways disease of both protocols in two cohorts. METHODS Routine PC-CTs (Princess Margaret Children's Hospital) and FB-CTs (Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital) were retrospectively collected from CF children aged 2 to 6 years. Total airways disease (%disease), bronchiectasis (%Bx), and low attenuation regions (%LAR) were scored on CTs using the Perth-Rotterdam annotated grid morphometric analysis-CF method. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for differences between TLC and FRC PC-CTs and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test for differences between FRC PC-CTs and FB-CTs. RESULTS Fifty patients with PC-CTs (21 male, aged 2.5-5.5 years) and 42 patients with FB-CTs (26 male, aged 2.3-6.8 years) were included. %Disease was higher on TLC PC-CTs compared with FRC PC-CTs (median 4.51 vs 2.49; P < .001). %Disease and %Bx were not significantly different between TLC PC-CTs and FB-CTs (median 4.51% vs 3.75%; P = .143 and 0.52% vs 0.57%; P = .849). %Disease, %Bx, and %LAR were not significantly different between FRC PC-CTs and FB-CTs (median 2.49% vs 3.75%; P = .055, 0.54% vs 0.57%; P = .797, and 2.49% vs 1.53%; P = .448). CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that FRC PC-CTs are less sensitive than TLC PC-CTs and that FB-CTs have similar sensitivity to PC-CTs in detecting lung disease. FB-CTs seem to be a viable alternative for PC-CTs to track CF lung disease in young patients with CF.
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Montgomery ST, Frey DL, Mall MA, Stick SM, Kicic A. Rhinovirus Infection Is Associated With Airway Epithelial Cell Necrosis and Inflammation via Interleukin-1 in Young Children With Cystic Fibrosis. Front Immunol 2020; 11:596. [PMID: 32328066 PMCID: PMC7161373 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The responses of cystic fibrosis (CF) airway epithelial cells (AEC) to rhinovirus (RV) infection are likely to contribute to early pathobiology of lung disease with increased neutrophilic inflammation and lower apoptosis reported. Necrosis of AEC resulting in airway inflammation driven by IL-1 signaling is a characteristic finding in CF detectable in airways of young children. Being the most common early-life infection, RV-induced epithelial necrosis may contribute to early neutrophilic inflammation in CF via IL-1 signaling. As little is known about IL-1 and biology of CF lung disease, this study assessed cellular and pro-inflammatory responses of CF and non-CF AEC following RV infection, with the hypothesis that RV infection drives epithelial necrosis and IL-1 driven inflammation. Methods:Primary AEC obtained from children with (n = 6) and without CF (n = 6) were infected with RV (MOI 3) for 24 h and viable, necrotic and apoptotic events quantified via flow cytometry using a seven-step gating strategy (% total events). IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1Ra, IL-8, CXCL10, CCL5, IFN-β, IL-28A, IL-28B, and IL-29 were also measured in cell culture supernatants (pg/mL). Results:RV infection reduced viable events in non-CF AEC (p < 0.05), increased necrotic events in non-CF and CF AEC (p < 0.05) and increased apoptotic events in non-CF AEC (p < 0.05). Infection induced IL-1α and IL-1β production in both phenotypes (p < 0.05) but only correlated with necrosis (IL-1α: r = 0.80; IL-1β: r = 0.77; p < 0.0001) in CF AEC. RV infection also increased IL-1Ra in non-CF and CF AEC (p < 0.05), although significantly more in non-CF AEC (p < 0.05). Finally, infection stimulated IL-8 production in non-CF and CF AEC (p < 0.05) and correlated with IL-1α (r = 0.63 & r = 0.74 respectively; p < 0.0001). Conclusions:This study found RV infection drives necrotic cell death in CF AEC. Furthermore, RV induced IL-1 strongly correlated with necrotic cell death in these cells. As IL-1R signaling drives airway neutrophilia and mucin production, these observations suggest RV infection early in life may exacerbate inflammation and mucin accumulation driving early CF lung disease. Since IL-1R can be targeted therapeutically with IL-1Ra, these data suggest a new anti-inflammatory therapeutic approach targeting downstream effects of IL-1R signaling to mitigate viral-induced, muco-inflammatory triggers of early lung disease.
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Iosifidis T, Sutanto EN, Buckley AG, Coleman L, Gill EE, Lee AH, Ling KM, Hillas J, Looi K, Garratt LW, Martinovich KM, Shaw NC, Montgomery ST, Kicic-Starcevich E, Karpievitch YV, Le Souëf P, Laing IA, Vijayasekaran S, Lannigan FJ, Rigby PJ, Hancock RE, Knight DA, Stick SM, Kicic A. Aberrant cell migration contributes to defective airway epithelial repair in childhood wheeze. JCI Insight 2020; 5:133125. [PMID: 32208383 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.133125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal wound repair has been observed in the airway epithelium of patients with chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma. Therapies focusing on repairing vulnerable airways, particularly in early life, present a potentially novel treatment strategy. We report defective lower airway epithelial cell repair to strongly associate with common pre-school-aged and school-aged wheezing phenotypes, characterized by aberrant migration patterns and reduced integrin α5β1 expression. Next generation sequencing identified the PI3K/Akt pathway as the top upstream transcriptional regulator of integrin α5β1, where Akt activation enhanced repair and integrin α5β1 expression in primary cultures from children with wheeze. Conversely, inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling in primary cultures from children without wheeze reduced α5β1 expression and attenuated repair. Importantly, the FDA-approved drug celecoxib - and its non-COX2-inhibiting analogue, dimethyl-celecoxib - stimulated the PI3K/Akt-integrin α5β1 axis and restored airway epithelial repair in cells from children with wheeze. When compared with published clinical data sets, the identified transcriptomic signature was also associated with viral-induced wheeze exacerbations highlighting the clinical potential of such therapy. Collectively, these results identify airway epithelial restitution via targeting the PI3K-integrin α5β1 axis as a potentially novel therapeutic avenue for childhood wheeze and asthma. We propose that the next step in the therapeutic development process should be a proof-of-concept clinical trial, since relevant animal models to test the crucial underlying premise are unavailable.
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Breuer O, Schultz A, Garratt LW, Turkovic L, Rosenow T, Murray CP, Karpievitch YV, Akesson L, Dalton S, Sly PD, Ranganathan S, Stick SM, Caudri D. Aspergillus Infections and Progression of Structural Lung Disease in Children with Cystic Fibrosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2020; 201:688-696. [DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201908-1585oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
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Breuer O, Schultz A, Turkovic L, de Klerk N, Keil AD, Brennan S, Harrison J, Robertson C, Robinson PJ, Sly PD, Ranganathan S, Stick SM, Caudri D. Changing Prevalence of Lower Airway Infections in Young Children with Cystic Fibrosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2020; 200:590-599. [PMID: 30811949 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201810-1919oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Historical studies suggest that airway infection in cystic fibrosis initiates with Staphylococcus aureus and Haemophilus influenzae, with later emergence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Aspergillus species are regarded as relatively infrequent, late-occurring infections.Objectives: To assess the prevalence and change in prevalence of early lower airway infections in a modern cohort of children with cystic fibrosis.Methods: All infants diagnosed with cystic fibrosis after newborn screening participating in the Australian Respiratory Early Surveillance Team for Cystic Fibrosis (AREST CF) cohort study between 2000 and 2018 were included. Participants prospectively underwent BAL at 3-6 months, 1 year, and annually up to 6 years of age. Lower airway infection prevalence was described. Changes in prevalence patterns were assessed longitudinally using generalized estimating equations controlling for age and repeated visits.Measurements and Main Results: A total of 380 infants underwent 1,759 BALs. The overall prevalence and median age of first acquisition of the most common infections were as follows: S. aureus, 11%, 2.5 years; P. aeruginosa, 8%, 2.4 years; Aspergillus species, 11%, 3.2 years; and H. influenzae, 9%, 3.1 years. During the study, a significant decrease in prevalence of P. aeruginosa (P < 0.001) and S. aureus (P < 0.001) was observed with a significant change toward more aggressive treatment. Prevalence of Aspergillus infections did not significantly change (P = 0.669).Conclusions: Aspergillus species and P. aeruginosa are commonly present in the lower airways from infancy. The decrease in prevalence of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus since 2000, coinciding with a more aggressive therapeutic approach, has resulted in Aspergillus becoming the most commonly isolated pathogen in young children. Further research is warranted to understand the implication of these findings.
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Turkovic L, Caudri D, Rosenow T, Breuer O, Murray C, Tiddens HA, Ramanauskas F, Ranganathan SC, Hall GL, Stick SM. Structural determinants of long-term functional outcomes in young children with cystic fibrosis. Eur Respir J 2020; 55:13993003.00748-2019. [DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00748-2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BackgroundAccelerated lung function decline in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) starts in adolescence with respiratory complications being the most common cause of death in later life. Factors contributing to lung function decline are not well understood, in particular its relationship with structural lung disease in early childhood. Detection and management of structural lung disease could be an important step in improving outcomes in CF patients.MethodsAnnual chest computed tomography (CT) scans were available from 2005 to 2016 as a part of the AREST CF cohort for children aged 3 months to 6 years. Annual spirometry measurements were available for 89.77% of the cohort (167 children aged 5–6 years) from age 5 to 15 years through outpatient clinics at Perth Children's Hospital (Perth, Australia) and The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne (Melbourne, Australia) (697 measurements, mean±sd age 9.3±2.1 years).ResultsChildren with a total CT score above the median at age 5–6 years were more likely to have abnormal forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (adjusted hazard ratio 2.67 (1.06–6.72), p=0.037) during the next 10 years compared to those below the median chest CT score. The extent of all structural abnormalities except bronchial wall thickening were associated with lower FEV1 Z-scores. Mucus plugging and trapped air were the most predictive sub-score (adjusted mean change −0.17 (−0.26 – −0.07) p<0.001 and −0.09 (−0.14 – −0.04) p<0.001, respectively).DiscussionChest CT identifies children at an early age who have adverse long-term outcomes. The prevention of structural lung damage should be a goal of early intervention and can be usefully assessed with chest CT. In an era of therapeutics that might alter disease trajectories, chest CT could provide an early readout of likely long-term success.
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Kicic A, de Jong E, Ling KM, Nichol K, Anderson D, Wark PAB, Knight DA, Bosco A, Stick SM. Assessing the unified airway hypothesis in children via transcriptional profiling of the airway epithelium. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2020; 145:1562-1573. [PMID: 32113981 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2020.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging evidence suggests that disease vulnerability is expressed throughout the airways, the so-called unified airway hypothesis, but the evidence to support this is predominantly indirect. OBJECTIVES We sought to establish the transcriptomic profiles of the upper and lower airways and determine their level of similarity irrespective of airway symptoms (wheeze) and allergy. METHODS We performed RNA sequencing on upper and lower airway epithelial cells from 63 children with or without wheeze and accompanying atopy, using differential gene expression and gene coexpression analyses to determine transcriptional similarity. RESULTS We observed approximately 91% homology in the expressed genes between the 2 sites. When coexpressed genes were grouped into modules relating to biological functions, all were found to be conserved between the 2 regions, resulting in a consensus network containing 16 modules associated with ribosomal function, metabolism, gene expression, mitochondrial activity, and antiviral responses through IFN activity. Although symptom-associated gene expression changes were more prominent in the lower airway, they were reflected in nasal epithelium and included IL-1 receptor like 1, prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 1, CCL26, and periostin. Through network analysis we identified a cluster of coexpressed genes associated with atopic wheeze in the lower airway, which could equally distinguish atopic and nonatopic phenotypes in upper airway samples. CONCLUSIONS We show that the upper and lower airways are significantly conserved in their transcriptional composition, and that variations associated with disease are present in both nasal and tracheal epithelium. Findings from this study supporting a unified airway imply that clinical insight regarding the lower airway in health and disease can be gained from studying the nasal epithelium.
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Margaroli C, Garratt LW, Horati H, Dittrich AS, Rosenow T, Montgomery ST, Frey DL, Brown MR, Schultz C, Guglani L, Kicic A, Peng L, Scholte BJ, Mall MA, Janssens HM, Stick SM, Tirouvanziam R. Elastase Exocytosis by Airway Neutrophils Is Associated with Early Lung Damage in Children with Cystic Fibrosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2020; 199:873-881. [PMID: 30281324 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201803-0442oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Neutrophils are recruited to the airways of individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). In adolescents and adults with CF, airway neutrophils actively exocytose the primary granule protease elastase (NE), whose extracellular activity correlates with lung damage. During childhood, free extracellular NE activity is measurable only in a subset of patients, and the exocytic function of airway neutrophils is unknown. OBJECTIVES To measure NE exocytosis by airway neutrophils in relation to free extracellular NE activity and lung damage in children with CF. METHODS We measured lung damage using chest computed tomography coupled with the Perth-Rotterdam Annotated Grid Morphometric Analysis for Cystic Fibrosis scoring system. Concomitantly, we phenotyped blood and BAL fluid leukocytes by flow and image cytometry, and measured free extracellular NE activity using spectrophotometric and Förster resonance energy transfer assays. Children with airway inflammation linked to aerodigestive disorder were enrolled as control subjects. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Children with CF but not disease control children harbored BAL fluid neutrophils with high exocytosis of primary granules, before the detection of bronchiectasis. This measure of NE exocytosis correlated with lung damage (R = 0.55; P = 0.0008), whereas the molecular measure of free extracellular NE activity did not. This discrepancy may be caused by the inhibition of extracellular NE by BAL fluid antiproteases and its binding to leukocytes. CONCLUSIONS NE exocytosis by airway neutrophils occurs in all children with CF, and its cellular measure correlates with early lung damage. These findings implicate live airway neutrophils in early CF pathogenesis, which should instruct biomarker development and antiinflammatory therapy in children with CF.
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Knight DA, Grainge CL, Stick SM, Kicic A, Schuliga M. Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition in Respiratory Disease: Fact or Fiction. Chest 2020; 157:1591-1596. [PMID: 31952949 DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2019.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
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