Conclusions
Collectively, these results provided evidence supporting the potential importance of the Th17-ASMCs crosstalk via the IL-17F-IL-6 axis in airway inflammation and as a candidate pharmacological target for airway inflammatory diseases such as asthma.
Methods
ASMCs were cultured in the presence or absence of IL-17F. The expression of IL-6 gene and protein was analyzed using real-time PCR and ELISA, and the activation of TAK1 and NF-κB was detected by Western blotting. The effect of TAK1 inhibitor 5Z-7-oxozeaenol and NF-κB inhibitor BAY 11-7082 on the expression of IL-6 was investigated. Finally, the short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting TAK1 and a subunit of NF-κB, p65 were transfected into ASMCs.
Results
The expression of IL-6 gene and protein was significantly induced by IL-17F. IL-17F activated TAK1 and NF-κB in ASMCs. Transfection of siRNAs targeting TAK1 abolished IL-17F-induced phosphorylation of p65. Both 5Z-7-oxozeaenol and BAY 11-7082 significantly inhibited IL-17F-induced IL-6 production in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, transfection of the cells with siRNAs targeting TAK1 and p65 inhibited the expression of IL-6. Conclusions: Collectively, these results provided evidence supporting the potential importance of the Th17-ASMCs crosstalk via the IL-17F-IL-6 axis in airway inflammation and as a candidate pharmacological target for airway inflammatory diseases such as asthma.