Combination of TWEAK and TGF-β1 induces the production of TSLP, RANTES, and TARC in BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelial cells during epithelial-mesenchymal transition

AbstractAim of the study: In patients with asthma, chronic inflammatory processes and the subsequent remodeling of the airways contribute to the symptoms and the pathophysiological changes. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is thought to play an important role in tissue remodeling. Previous reports show that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is a cytokine of the TNF superfamily, exerts pro-inflammatory effects, and enhances transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-induced EMT in bronchial epithelial cells. In this study, we investigated the TWEAK-induced cytokine and chemokine production in the human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B during EMT. Materials and Methods: Quantitative real-time RT-PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were used to define the production of cytokines and chemokines. Results: We found that TWEAK increases mRNA and protein levels of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), monocyte chemoattractant pro...