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Desmoglein-1 regulates esophageal epithelial barrier function and immune responses in eosinophilic esophagitis.

ABSTRACT: The desmosomal cadherin desmoglein-1 (DSG1) is an essential intercellular adhesion molecule that is altered in various human cutaneous disorders; however, its regulation and function in allergic disease remains unexplored. Herein, we demonstrate a specific reduction in DSG1 in esophageal biopsies from patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), an emerging allergic disorder characterized by chronic inflammation within the esophageal mucosa. Further, we show that DSG1 gene silencing weakens esophageal epithelial integrity, and induces cell separation and impaired barrier function (IBF) despite high levels of desmoglein-3. Moreover, DSG1 deficiency induces transcriptional changes that partially overlap with the transcriptome of inflamed esophageal mucosa; notably, periostin (POSTN), a multipotent pro-inflammatory extracellular matrix molecule, is the top induced overlapping gene. We further demonstrate that IBF is a pathological feature in EoE, which can be partially induced through the downregulation of DSG1 by interleukin-13 (IL-13). Taken together, these data identify a functional role for DSG1 and its dysregulation by IL-13 in the pathophysiology of EoE and suggest that the loss of DSG1 may potentiate allergic inflammation through the induction of pro-inflammatory mediators such as POSTN.

SUBMITTER: Sherrill JD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3999291 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Desmoglein-1 regulates esophageal epithelial barrier function and immune responses in eosinophilic esophagitis.

Sherrill J D JD Kc K K Wu D D Djukic Z Z Caldwell J M JM Stucke E M EM Kemme K A KA Costello M S MS Mingler M K MK Blanchard C C Collins M H MH Abonia J P JP Putnam P E PE Dellon E S ES Orlando R C RC Hogan S P SP Rothenberg M E ME

Mucosal immunology 20131113 3

The desmosomal cadherin desmoglein-1 (DSG1) is an essential intercellular adhesion molecule that is altered in various human cutaneous disorders; however, its regulation and function in allergic disease remains unexplored. Herein, we demonstrate a specific reduction in DSG1 in esophageal biopsies from patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), an emerging allergic disorder characterized by chronic inflammation within the esophageal mucosa. Further, we show that DSG1 gene silencing weakens eso ...[more]

PMID: 24220297

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Project description:Introduction Disruption of the epithelial barrier can induce eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a TH2-mediated food- and aeroallergen associated chronic inflammatory disease 1, 2. The expression of IL-20 subfamily cytokines, IL-19, IL-20 and IL-24, is increased in TH2-mediated diseases, yet their function in EoE is unknown. Methods Combining RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and proteome analysis, we have examined the effects of the IL-20 subfamily on esophageal epithelial cells using patient-derived organoids and an experimental EoE mouse model. Results When stimulated with IL-20 subfamily cytokines patient-derived esophageal organoids showed decreased expression of Filaggrin (FLG) and Filaggrin 2 (FLG2) responsible for epithelial cornification. In agreement, EoE patients with active inflammation showed elevated IL-20 subfamily cytokines and decreased FLG and FLG2 expression. Topical corticosteroid treatment in EoE patients restored filaggrin expression, while reducing IL-20 subfamily cytokines. Abolishment of IL-20 subfamily signalling in Il20R2-/- animals attenuated experimental EoE in an OVA-induced mouse model. In the esophageal keratinocyte cell line, KYSE-180, we identified IL-20 subfamily-induced STAT3 and MAPK (ERK1/2) pathway activation. However, Stat3fl/flKrt5cre mice with an epithelium specific deletion of Stat3 developed exacerbated experimental EoE with a pronounced decrease of Flg2. In line, combined stimulation of patient-derived esophageal organoids with IL-20 subfamily cytokines and pharmacological inhibition of STAT3 resulted in aggravated decrease of FLG and FLG2. In addition, pharmacological STAT3 inhibition resulted in reduced transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and increased macromolecular flux in patient-derived air liquid interface (ALI) cultures. Whereas, inhibition of the MAPK (ERK1/2) pathway hampered IL-20 subfamily induced TEER reduction and paracellular flux increment. Finally, MAPK (ERK1/2) inhibitor treatment reduced infiltrating CD45+ immune cells in the esophagus and alleviated experimental EoE in mice. Conclusion We discovered a novel regulatory function of the IL-20 subfamily for epithelial barrier integrity. Aberrant IL-20 subfamily signaling disturbs the epithelial barrier function, while abrogation of IL-20 subfamily and ERK1/2 signaling restores epithelial integrity and attenuates experimental EoE. Therefore, we propose that targeting the IL-20 subfamily pathway could present a novel therapeutic strategy for EoE treatment.

Project description:Epithelial differentiation is an essential physiological process that imparts mechanical strength and barrier function to squamous epithelia. Perturbation of this process can give rise to numerous human diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, in which antigenic stimuli can penetrate the weakened epithelial barrier to initiate the allergic inflammatory cascade. We recently described a simplified air-liquid interface (ALI) culture system that facilitates the study of differentiated squamous epithelia in vitro. Herein, we use RNA sequencing to define the genome-wide transcriptional changes that occur within the ALI system during epithelial differentiation and in response to allergic inflammation. We identified 2,191 and 781 genes that were significantly altered upon epithelial differentiation or dysregulated in the presence of interleukin 13 (IL-13), respectively. Notably, 286 genes that were modified by IL-13 in the ALI system overlapped with the gene signature present within the inflamed esophageal tissue from patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), an allergic inflammatory disorder of the esophagus that is characterized by elevated IL-13 levels, altered epithelial differentiation, and pro-inflammatory gene expression. Pathway analysis of these overlapping genes indicated enrichment in keratin genes; for example, the gene encoding keratin 78, an uncharacterized type II keratin, was upregulated during epithelial differentiation (45-fold) yet downregulated in response to IL-13 and in inflamed esophageal tissue from patients. Thus, our findings delineate an in vitro experimental system that models epithelial differentiation that is dynamically regulated by IL-13. Using this system and analyses of patient tissues, we identify an altered expression profile of novel keratin differentiation markers in response to IL-13 and disease activity, substantiating the potential of this combined approach to identify relevant molecular processes that contribute to human allergic inflammatory disease.

Project description:Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic, allergen-driven inflammatory disease of the esophagus characterized predominantly by eosinophilic inflammation, leading to esophageal dysfunction. Converging data have placed the esophageal epithelium at the center of disease pathogenesis. In particular, the main EoE disease susceptibility loci at 2p23 and 5p22 encode for gene products that are produced by the esophageal epithelium: the intracellular protease calpain 14 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin, respectively. Furthermore, genetic and functional data establish a primary role for impaired epithelial barrier function in disease susceptibility and pathoetiology. Additionally, the EoE transcriptome, a set of genes dysregulated in the esophagi of patients with EoE, is enriched in genes that encode for proteins involved in esophageal epithelial cell differentiation. This transcriptome has a high proportion of esophagus-specific epithelial genes that are notable for the unexpected enrichment in genes encoding for proteases and protease inhibitors, as well as in IL-1 family genes, demonstrating a previously unappreciated role for innate immunity responses in the esophagus under homeostatic conditions. Among these pathways, basal production of the serine protease inhibitor, Kazal-type 7 (SPINK7) has been demonstrated to be part of the normal differentiation program of esophageal epithelium. Profound lost expression of SPINK7 occurs in patients with EoE and is sufficient for unleashing increased proteolytic activity (including urokinase plasminogen activator), impaired barrier function, and production of large quantities of proinflammatory and proallergic cytokines, including thymic stromal lymphopoietin. Collectively, we put forth a model in which the esophagus is normally equipped as an anti-inflammatory sensing organ and that defects in this pathway, mediated by epithelial protease/protease inhibitor imbalances, unleash inflammatory responses resulting in disorders, such as EoE.

Dataset Information

Desmoglein-1 regulates esophageal epithelial barrier function and immune responses in eosinophilic esophagitis.

Publications

Desmoglein-1 regulates esophageal epithelial barrier function and immune responses in eosinophilic esophagitis.

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