Open Access

Mechanisms of the lipopolysaccharide‑induced inflammatory response in alveolar epithelial cell/macrophage co‑culture

  • Authors:
    • Jiansheng Li
    • Yanqin Qin
    • Yulong Chen
    • Peng Zhao
    • Xuefang Liu
    • Haoran Dong
    • Wanchun Zheng
    • Suxiang Feng
    • Xiaoning Mao
    • Congcong Li
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: September 10, 2020     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.9204
  • Article Number: 76
  • Copyright: © Li et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

The interaction between alveolar epithelial cells (EpCs) and macrophages (MPs) serves an important role in initiating and maintaining inflammation in chronic pulmonary diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms of the inflammatory response in co‑cultured EpCs and MPs. Briefly, a co‑culture system of A549 (EpCs) and THP‑1 (monocyte/MPs) cells was established in a filter‑separated Transwell plate to evaluate the inflammatory response. Following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment, cytokine levels were measured using ELISAs, NF‑κB transcription factor activity was detected using EMSA and protein expression levels were analyzed using Western blot assays subsequently in EpCs and MPs. Co‑cultured EpCs/MPs were found to secrete increased levels of interleukin (IL)‑6, IL‑1β, IL‑8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‑α following LPS exposure for 6, 12, 24 and 48 h compared with either EpC or MP monocultures. Concurrently, NF‑κB was revealed to be activated in MPs at 6 and 12 h, and in EpCs at 24 h. NF‑κB DNA binding, Toll‑like receptor 4 expression levels and the p65 phosphorylation status were also increased, which may contribute to the inflammatory response in the EpC/MP co‑cultures. Notably, cytokine levels decreased following the inhibition of NF‑κB expression with pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate. In conclusion, the present study successfully established an EpC/MP co‑culture system using LPS, which may be a useful model for studying chronic inflammation in vitro.
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November-2020
Volume 20 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Li J, Qin Y, Chen Y, Zhao P, Liu X, Dong H, Zheng W, Feng S, Mao X, Li C, Li C, et al: Mechanisms of the lipopolysaccharide‑induced inflammatory response in alveolar epithelial cell/macrophage co‑culture. Exp Ther Med 20: 76, 2020
APA
Li, J., Qin, Y., Chen, Y., Zhao, P., Liu, X., Dong, H. ... Li, C. (2020). Mechanisms of the lipopolysaccharide‑induced inflammatory response in alveolar epithelial cell/macrophage co‑culture. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 20, 76. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.9204
MLA
Li, J., Qin, Y., Chen, Y., Zhao, P., Liu, X., Dong, H., Zheng, W., Feng, S., Mao, X., Li, C."Mechanisms of the lipopolysaccharide‑induced inflammatory response in alveolar epithelial cell/macrophage co‑culture". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 20.5 (2020): 76.
Chicago
Li, J., Qin, Y., Chen, Y., Zhao, P., Liu, X., Dong, H., Zheng, W., Feng, S., Mao, X., Li, C."Mechanisms of the lipopolysaccharide‑induced inflammatory response in alveolar epithelial cell/macrophage co‑culture". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 20, no. 5 (2020): 76. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.9204