Background: How elevated temperature is generated during airway infections represents a hitherto unresolved physiological question. We hypothesized that innate immune defence mechanisms would increase luminal airway temperature during pulmonary infection. Methods: We determined the temperature in the exhaled air of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. To further test our hypothesis, a pouch inflammatory model using neutrophil elastase-deficient mice was employed. Next, the impact of temperature changes on the dominant CF pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa growth was tested by plating method and RNAseq. Results: Here we show a temperature of similar to 38 degrees C in neutrophil-dominated mucus plugs of chronically infected CF patients and implicate neutrophil elastase:alpha(1)-proteinase inhibitor complex formation as a relevant mechanism for the local temperature rise. Gene expression of the main pathogen in CF, P. aeruginosa, under anaerobic conditions at 38 degrees C vs 30 degrees C revealed increased virulence traits and characteristic cell wall changes. Conclusion: Neutrophil elastase mediates increase in airway temperature, which may contribute to P. aeruginosa selection during the course of chronic infection in CF

Neutrophil elastase-mediated increase in airway temperature during inflammation

PIACENTINI, Giorgio;
2014-01-01

Abstract

Background: How elevated temperature is generated during airway infections represents a hitherto unresolved physiological question. We hypothesized that innate immune defence mechanisms would increase luminal airway temperature during pulmonary infection. Methods: We determined the temperature in the exhaled air of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. To further test our hypothesis, a pouch inflammatory model using neutrophil elastase-deficient mice was employed. Next, the impact of temperature changes on the dominant CF pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa growth was tested by plating method and RNAseq. Results: Here we show a temperature of similar to 38 degrees C in neutrophil-dominated mucus plugs of chronically infected CF patients and implicate neutrophil elastase:alpha(1)-proteinase inhibitor complex formation as a relevant mechanism for the local temperature rise. Gene expression of the main pathogen in CF, P. aeruginosa, under anaerobic conditions at 38 degrees C vs 30 degrees C revealed increased virulence traits and characteristic cell wall changes. Conclusion: Neutrophil elastase mediates increase in airway temperature, which may contribute to P. aeruginosa selection during the course of chronic infection in CF
2014
Inflammation; Neutrophil elastase; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Temperature
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11562/713968
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