The Role of Neutrophils and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Mucus Hypersecretion

리포다당질 (lipopolysaccharide)에 의한 기관지 점액 생성 기전에서 호중구와 상피세포 성장인자 수용체 (epidermal growth factor receptor)의 역할

Background : Goblet cell hyperplasia is a critical pathological feature in hypersecretory diseases of the airways. A bacterial infection of the lung is also known to induce inflammatory responses, which can lead to the overproduction of mucus. Recently, mucin synthesis in the airways has been reported to be regulated by neutrophilic inflammation-induced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression and activation. In addition, it was reported that migration of the activated neutrophils is dependent on the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), especially MMP-9. In this study, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced goblet cell hyperplasia and mucus hypersecretion by EGFR cascade, resulting from the MMPs-dependent neutrophilic inflammation were investigated in the rat airways. Methods : Pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats were studied in vivo. Various concentrations of LPS were instilled into the trachea in $300{\mu}{\ell}$ PBS (LPS group). Sterile PBS ($300{\mu}{\ell}$) was instilled into the trachea of the control animals (control group). The airways were examined on different days after instilling LPS. For an examination of the relationship between the LPS-induced goblet cell hyperplasia and MMPs, the animals were pretreated 3 days prior to the LPS instillation and daily thereafter with the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (MMPI; 20 mg/Kg/day of CMT-3; Collagenex Pharmaceuticals, USA). The neutrophilic infiltration was quantified as a number in five high power fields (HPF). The alcian blue/periodic acid-Schiff (AB/PAS) stain were performed for the mucus glycoconjugates and the immunohistochemical stains were performed for MUC5AC, EGFR and MMP-9. Their expressions were quantified by an image analysis program and were expressed by the percentage of the total bronchial epithelial area. Results : The instillation of LPS induced AB/PAS and MUC5AC staining in the airway epithelium in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Treatment with the MMPI prevented the LPS-induced goblet cell hyperplasia significantly. The instillation of LPS into the trachea induced also EGFR expression in the airway epithelium. The control airway epithelium contained few leukocytes, but the intratracheal instillation of LPS resulted in a neutrophilic recruitment. A pretreatment with MMPI prevented neutrophilic recruitment, EGFR expression, and goblet cell hyperplasia in the LPS-instilled airway epithelium. Conclusion : Matrix metalloproteinase is involved in LPS-induced mucus hypersecretion, resulting from a neutrophilic inflammation and EGFR cascade. These results suggest a potential therapeutic role of MMPI in the treatment of mucus hypersecretion that were associated with a bacterial infection of the airways.

배경 : 본 연구에서는 세균성 리포다당질(lipopolysac-charide, LPS)로 인한 호중구성 염증이 EGFR 시스템을 통해서 배상 세포의 이형성 및 점액의 과다 분비를 유발할 것이라는 가설 하에, LPS와 MMPs 억제제(matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor, MMPI)를 투여한 후 EGFR 및 MMP-9의 발현을 연구하고자 하였다. 방법 : Pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley 를, 다양한 농도의 LPS를 투여한 군과 투여하지 않은 대조군으로 나누어 기도의 조직학적인 변화를 날짜 별로 관찰하였고, MMPI(CMT-3)를 LPS 투여 3일 전부터 매일 구강을 통해 섭식시켰다. 호중구의 침윤은 다섯 개의 고배율 시야에서 관찰된 호중구의 수로 정량화하여 비교하였고, mucus glycoconjugate에 대한 AB/PAS 염색 및 MUC5AC, EGFR, MMP-9에 대한 면역조직화학 염색 (immunohistochemical stain)을 시행하였다 결과 : LPS를 투여한 경우 기도 상피의 AB/PAS 및 MUC5AC의 염색 정도는 시간 및 용량 의존적으로 증가하였고, MMPI를 치료할 경우에 LPS로 인한 배상세포의 과형성이 유의하게 감소하였다. LPS를 주입할 경우 호중구의 침윤이 증가하였고 기도 상피에서 EGFR의 발현을 증가시켰다. MMPI로 치료할 경우 LPS로 인한 호중구의 침윤 및 EGFR의 발현 그리고 배상세포의 과형성이 현저하게 감소되었다. 결론 : Matrix metalloproteinase는 호중구성 염증 및 EGFR에 의해 발생하는 LPS에 의한 배상 세포의 과형성 및 점액 과다분비의 기전에 있어서 밀접하게 관련되고, 따라서 점액 과다분비를 특징으로 하는 세균 감염으로 인한 기도 질환의 치료에 있어서 MMPI가 잠재적인 임상적 효과가 있을 것으로 사료된다.