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EGF shifts human airway basal cell fate toward a smoking-associated airway epithelial phenotype.

ABSTRACT: The airway epithelium of smokers acquires pathological phenotypes, including basal cell (BC) and/or goblet cell hyperplasia, squamous metaplasia, structural and functional abnormalities of ciliated cells, decreased number of secretoglobin (SCGB1A1)-expressing secretory cells, and a disordered junctional barrier. In this study, we hypothesized that smoking alters airway epithelial structure through modification of BC function via an EGF receptor (EGFR)-mediated mechanism. Analysis of the airway epithelium revealed that EGFR is enriched in airway BCs, whereas its ligand EGF is induced by smoking in ciliated cells. Exposure of BCs to EGF shifted the BC differentiation program toward the squamous and epithelial-mesenchymal transition-like phenotypes with down-regulation of genes related to ciliogenesis, secretory differentiation, and markedly reduced junctional barrier integrity, mimicking the abnormalities present in the airways of smokers in vivo. These data suggest that activation of EGFR in airway BCs by smoking-induced EGF represents a unique mechanism whereby smoking can alter airway epithelial differentiation and barrier function.

SUBMITTER: Shaykhiev R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3718120 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:The club cell, a small airway epithelial (SAE) secretory cell that uniquely expresses SCGB1A1, plays a central role in host defense in the human lung. Based on data demonstrating that ~50% of club cells express MUC5B, a secretory mucin critical for mucociliary clearance, we hypothesized that subpopulations of club cells with distinct functions may exist. To evaluate this, the SAE of normal nonsmokers and healthy cigarette smokers was sampled by bronchoscopy and brushing followed by single cell sequencing using Drop-seq technology. Subpopulations of SCGCB1A1+KRT5loMUC5AC- club cells were assessed by unsupervised clustering to evaluate club cell subpopulations. Immunostaining of SAE in lung sections, brushed SAE cells, and in vitro air-liquid interface culture was utilized to confirm the transcriptomic-based observations. Unsupervised clustering of SCGCB1A1+KRT5loMUC5AC‾ club cells in the SAE identified 3 unique club cell populations that differed by differentiation state and function, including: (1) progenitor; (2) proliferating; and (3) effector subpopulations. The progenitor club cell population was energetically active with high expression of mitochondrial and ribosomal proteins and the highest KRT5 levels vs other club cell populations. The proliferating population, defined by high expression of cyclins and proliferation markers, was the smallest, representing 2% of club cells. The effector club cell cluster expressed transcripts for host defense genes, xenobiotic metabo-lism, and barrier functions commonly associated with club cell function. Comparison of the club cell subpopulations in smokers vs nonsmokers demonstrated that the proportion of the club cell effector population was significantly decreased in smokers with a concomitant significant in-crease in the proliferating cell population. These observations provide novel insights into both the makeup of human SAE club cell subpopulations and smoking-induced changes in club cell biology.

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EGF shifts human airway basal cell fate toward a smoking-associated airway epithelial phenotype.

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