Project description:The effects of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on healthy airways are poorly defined. Our objective was to delineate the effects of ICS on gene expression in healthy airways, without confounding caused by changes in disease-related genes and disease-related alterations in ICS-responsiveness. We performed a randomised open-label bronchoscopy study of high dose ICS therapy in 30 healthy adult volunteers randomised 2:1 to i) fluticasone propionate 500 mcg bd or ii) no treatment (control), for 4 weeks. Laboratory staff were blinded to allocation. Biopsies and brushings were analysed by bulk RNA sequencing. ICS treatment upregulated 72 genes in brushings and 53 genes in biopsies, and downregulated 82 genes in brushings and 416 genes in biopsies. The most downregulated genes in both tissues were canonical markers of type-2 inflammation (FCER1A, CPA3, IL33, CLEC10A, SERPINB10 and CCR5), T cell-mediated adaptive immunity (TARP, TRBC1, TRBC2, PTPN22, TRAC, CD2, CD8A, HLA-DQB2, CD96, PTPN7), B cell immunity (CD20, immunoglobulin heavy and light chains), and innate immunity, including CD48, Hobit, RANTES, Langerin and GFI1. An IL-17-dependent gene signature was not upregulated by ICS. In healthy airways, 4-week ICS exposure reduces gene expression related to both innate and adaptive immunity, and reduces markers of type-2 inflammation. This implies that homeostasis in health involves tonic type-2 signalling in the airway mucosa, which is exquisitely sensitive to ICS.
Project description:Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) control airway inflammation in mild to moderate asthma by reducing inflammatory gene expression. However, incomplete understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning corticosteroid action hinders development of improved therapies for more severe disease. Microarray analysis was performed on RNA from biopsies taken from healthy individuals after receiving single dose of ICS to characterize corticosteroid-induced modulation of gene expression in the human airways.
Project description:Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) control airway inflammation in mild to moderate asthma by reducing inflammatory gene expression. However, incomplete understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning corticosteroid action hinders development of improved therapies for more severe disease. Microarray analysis was performed on RNA from biopsies taken from healthy individuals after receiving single dose of ICS to characterize corticosteroid-induced modulation of gene expression in the human airways. Healthy male, non-smoker, non-allergic volunteers (age 18-50 years) with normal lung function were recruited into a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, two-period crossover study involving an initial screening visit, followed by two intervention visits. Participants were screened at visit 1 for fulfilment of the study eligibility criteria. At visit 2, volunteers were randomized to receive inhaled budesonide (1600 µg) or placebo, both via Turbuhaler. Two to three weeks later, at visit 3, participants received either budesonide or placebo, as appropriate to complete both study arms. Six hours after placebo or a budesonide inhalation, bronchial biopsies were obtained via bronchoscopy.
Project description:BackgroundThe effects of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on healthy airways are poorly defined.ObjectivesTo delineate the effects of ICS on gene expression in healthy airways, without confounding caused by changes in disease-related genes and disease-related alterations in ICS responsiveness.MethodsRandomized open-label bronchoscopy study of high-dose ICS therapy in 30 healthy adult volunteers randomized 2:1 to (i) fluticasone propionate 500 mcg bd daily or (ii) no treatment, for 4 weeks. Laboratory staff were blinded to allocation. Biopsies and brushings were analysed by immunohistochemistry, bulk RNA sequencing, DNA methylation array and metagenomics.ResultsICS induced small between-group differences in blood and lamina propria eosinophil numbers, but not in other immunopathological features, blood neutrophils, FeNO, FEV1, microbiome or DNA methylation. ICS treatment upregulated 72 genes in brushings and 53 genes in biopsies, and downregulated 82 genes in brushings and 416 genes in biopsies. The most downregulated genes in both tissues were canonical markers of type-2 inflammation (FCER1A, CPA3, IL33, CLEC10A, SERPINB10 and CCR5), T cell-mediated adaptive immunity (TARP, TRBC1, TRBC2, PTPN22, TRAC, CD2, CD8A, HLA-DQB2, CD96, PTPN7), B-cell immunity (CD20, immunoglobulin heavy and light chains) and innate immunity, including CD48, Hobit, RANTES, Langerin and GFI1. An IL-17-dependent gene signature was not upregulated by ICS.ConclusionsIn healthy airways, 4-week ICS exposure reduces gene expression related to both innate and adaptive immunity, and reduces markers of type-2 inflammation. This implies that homeostasis in health involves tonic type-2 signalling in the airway mucosa, which is exquisitely sensitive to ICS.
Project description:The Differential Effects of Inhaled Symbicort and AdvaiR on Lung Microbiota (DISARM) study aimed to determine the effects of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on the lung microbiome. The full trial protocol is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02833480) and the study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the University of British Columbia and Providence Health Care (H14-02277). Participants were randomized to receive inhaled long-acting beta agonist (LABA) treatment with formoterol, or LABA/ICS combination treatment with formoterol/budesonide or salmeterol/fluticasone propionate, for 12 weeks. Bronchoscopy was performed before and after treatment, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and bronchial brushes (6th-8th generation) were collected. This dataset contains RNA-seq data from the bronchial brushes. RNA was extracted from cytological brush specimens stored in QIAzol RNA lysis buffer (QIAGEN, Stockach, Germany) using the RNeasy Plus kit (QIAGEN) according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and specimens were submitted for sequencing at the University of British Columbia Biomedical Research Centre. Sample quality control was performed using the Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer (Agilent, Santa Clara, CA, USA). Qualifying samples were then prepared following the standard protocol for the NEBnext Ultra ii Stranded mRNA (New England Biolabs, Ipswich, MA, USA). Sequencing was performed on the Illumina NextSeq 500 (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA) with paired end 42bp × 42bp reads. Samples were sequenced in batches of 24, with batches formed by random selection of samples.
Project description:Background: The first step in SARS-CoV-2 infection is binding of the virus to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on the airway epithelium. Asthma affects over 300 million people world-wide, many of whom may encounter SARS-CoV-2. Epidemiologic data suggests that asthmatics who get infected may be at increased risk of more severe disease. Our objective was to assess whether maintenance inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), a major treatment for asthma, is associated with airway ACE2 expression in asthmatics. Methods: Large airway epithelium (LAE) of asthmatics treated with maintenance ICS (ICS+), asthmatics not treated with ICS (ICS-), and healthy controls (controls) was analyzed for expression of ACE2 and other coronavirus infection-related genes using microarrays. Results: AsResults: As a group, there was no difference in LAE ACE2 expression in all asthmatics vs controls. In contrast, subgroup analysis demonstrated that LAE ACE2 expression was higher in asthmatics ICS+ compared to ICS‾ and ACE2 expression was higher in male ICS+ compared to female ICS+ and ICS‾ of either sex. ACE2 expression did not correlate with serum IgE, absolute eosinophil level, or change in FEV1 in response to bronchodilators in either ICS- or ICS+. Conclusion: Airway ACE2 expression is increased in asthmatics on long-term treatment with ICS, an observation that should be taken into consideration when assessing the use of inhaled corticosteroids during the pandemic. a group, there was no difference in LAE ACE2 expression in all asthmatics vs controls. In contrast, subgroup analysis demonstrated that LAE ACE2 expression was higher in asthmatics ICS+ compared to ICS‾ and ACE2 expression was higher in male ICS+ compared to female ICS+ and ICS‾ of either sex. ACE2 expression did not correlate with serum IgE, absolute eosinophil level, or change in FEV1 in response to bronchodilators in either ICS- or ICS+. Conclusion: Airway ACE2 expression is increased in asthmatics on long-term treatment with ICS, an observation that should be taken into consideration when assessing the use of inhaled corticosteroids during the pandemic.
Project description:Prenatal exposure to synthetic corticosteroids can significantly alter postnatal development through changes in neurotransmitters and their receptors, and thus having long-lasting behavioral effects. Some of these changes have been observed in animal experiments, others also in humans prenatally exposed to synthetic corticosteroids. Here, we focused on transcriptomic changes within the prefrontal cortex of female rats prenatally exposed to either betamethasone or saline. The transcriptome has been assessed by novel computational tools to determine complex changes that may have life-long effects on phenotype, i.e., behavior. We analyzed how composition, topology and modulatory networks of the genomic fabric of the dopaminergic, GABAergic, and glutamatergic synapse (the transcriptome of the most interconnected and stably expressed gene network responsible for specific transmission) are afected by the prenatal exposure to corticosteroids and postnatal ketamine-induced seizures. One sex (F) x two prenatal exposures (B = betamethasone, S = saline) x two postnatal treatments (K = ketamine, S = saline). Biological replicates: 4 FSS, 4 FBS, 4 FBK.
Project description:Prenatal exposure to synthetic corticosteroids can significantly alter postnatal development through changes in neurotransmitters and their receptors, and thus having long-lasting behavioral effects. Some of these changes have been observed in animal experiments, others also in humans prenatally exposed to synthetic corticosteroids. Here, we focused on transcriptomic changes within the prefrontal cortex of female rats prenatally exposed to either betamethasone or saline. The transcriptome has been assessed by novel computational tools to determine complex changes that may have life-long effects on phenotype, i.e., behavior. We analyzed how composition, topology and modulatory networks of the genomic fabric of the dopaminergic, GABAergic, and glutamatergic synapse (the transcriptome of the most interconnected and stably expressed gene network responsible for specific transmission) are affected by prenatal exposure to corticosteroids and postnatal ketamine/saline treated NMDA-induced seizures.