Department of Medical Research, Kuang Tien General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Inflammation. 2013 Jun;36(3):616-24. doi: 10.1007/s10753-012-9583-x.
Inflammation of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) is believed to be important in causing airway hyperresponsiveness. However, zinc has been reported to be implicated in many kinds of cell inflammation. Little is known about the effect of zinc treatment on Der p2 (group II Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus)-induced inflammation from ASMCs. This study investigated effects and mechanisms of zinc in Der p2-treated ASMCs. Der p2-treated primary ASMCs were cultured with various concentrations of zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) 6 μM, 12 μM, 24 μM, and 96 μM. The proteins and mRNAs of cytokines in ASMCs were examined by ELISA and real-time PCR. Intracellular zinc was stained with Zinquin fluorescence. The cell signaling protein expression was detected by Western blot. Der p2 was used to induce interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-1, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 production of ASMCs. However, we found that 24 μM ZnSO₄ reduced these inflammatory mediators production of Der p2-treated primary ASMCs. Der p2-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) phosphorylation were suppressed by supplementation of 24 μM ZnSO₄. Zinc is an anti-inflammatory agent that reduces inflammation of Der p2-treated ASMCs through the suppression of the ERK and NF-κB pathway. The results may be helpful for the development of effective treatments.
气道平滑肌细胞（ASMCs）的炎症被认为在引起气道高反应性中起重要作用。然而，锌已被报道与许多种细胞炎症有关。关于锌处理对 Der p2（尘螨属第二型）诱导的 ASMCs 炎症的影响知之甚少。本研究探讨了锌在 Der p2 处理的 ASMCs 中的作用和机制。用不同浓度的硫酸锌（ZnSO₄）6 μM、12 μM、24 μM 和 96 μM 培养 Der p2 处理的原代 ASMCs。通过 ELISA 和实时 PCR 检测 ASMCs 中细胞因子的蛋白质和 mRNAs。用 Zinquin 荧光染色细胞内锌。通过 Western blot 检测细胞信号蛋白表达。Der p2 用于诱导 ASMCs 产生白细胞介素（IL）-6、IL-8、IL-1 和单核细胞趋化蛋白-1。然而，我们发现 24 μM ZnSO₄ 可降低 Der p2 处理的原代 ASMCs 中这些炎症介质的产生。补充 24 μM ZnSO₄ 可抑制 Der p2 诱导的细胞外信号调节激酶（ERK）和核因子-κB（NF-κB）磷酸化。锌是一种抗炎剂，通过抑制 ERK 和 NF-κB 途径减少 Der p2 处理的 ASMCs 的炎症。这些结果可能有助于开发有效的治疗方法。
