Anti-interleukin-33 inhibits cigarette smoke-induced lung inflammation in mice

Qiu, C., Li, Y., Li, M., Li, M., Liu, X., McSharry, C. and Xu, D. (2013) Anti-interleukin-33 inhibits cigarette smoke-induced lung inflammation in mice. Immunology, 138(1), pp. 76-82. (doi: 10.1111/imm.12020)

Abstract

The mechanism by which cigarette smoke (CS) causes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is poorly understood. Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a pleiotropic cytokine predominantly expressed in lung tissue and can elicit airway inflammation in naive mice. We tested the hypothesis that IL-33 is induced by CS and contributes to CS-mediated airway inflammation in a mouse model of CS-induced COPD. Groups of mice were exposed to CS three times per day for 4 consecutive days. The expression levels of IL-33 and ST2 were markedly enhanced in the lung tissue of mice inhaling CS. Exposure to CS also induced neutrophil and macrophage infiltration and expression of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, tumour necrosis factor-α, IL-17), chemokines (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) and mucin 5, subtypes A and C in the airways. More importantly, all of these CS-induced pathogenic changes were significantly inhibited by treatment with neutralizing anti-IL-33 antibody delivered intranasally. Hence, our results suggest that IL-33 plays a critical role in CS-mediated airway inflammation and may be a therapeutic target in CS-related diseases, including COPD.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Xu, Dr Damo and McSharry, Dr Charles
• Authors: Qiu, C., Li, Y., Li, M., Li, M., Liu, X., McSharry, C., and Xu, D.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: Immunology
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0019-2805
• Published Online: 13 December 2012