Ruhl A, Ant?o AV, Dietschmann A, Radtke D, Tenbusc. STAT6-induced production of mucus and resistin-like molecules in lung Club cells does not protect against helminth or Influenza A virus infection. Eur J Immunol. 2023 Oct 19:e2350558
Airway epithelial cells contribute to a variety of lung diseases including allergic asthma, where IL-4 and IL-13 promote activation of the transcription factor STAT6. This leads to goblet cell hyperplasia and the secretion of effector molecules by epithelial cells. However, the specific effect of activated STAT6 in lung epithelial cells is only partially understood. Here, we created a mouse strain to selectively investigate the role of constitutively active STAT6 in Club cells, a subpopulation of airway epithelial cells. CCSP-Cre_STAT6vt mice and bronchiolar organoids derived from these show an enhanced expression of the chitinase-like protein Chil4 (Ym2) and resistin-like molecules (Relm-α, -β, -γ). In addition, goblet cells of these mice spontaneously secrete mucus into the bronchi. However, the activated epithelium resulted neither in impaired lung function nor conferred a protective effect against the migrating helminth Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Moreover, CCSP-Cre_STAT6vt mice showed similar allergic airway inflammation induced by live conidia of the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus and similar recovery after Influenza A virus infection compared to control mice. Together these results highlight that STAT6 signaling in Club cells induces the secretion of Relm proteins and mucus without impairing lung function, but this is not sufficient to confer protection against helminth or viral infections.
See Also:
Latest articles in those days:
- Highly pathogenic avian influenza as a systemic risk - implications for control and preparedness 4 hours ago
- Multiple introductions and spread of novel reassortant highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b viruses via wild birds, South Korea, 2024-2025 4 hours ago
- [preprint]The mammalian-adaptive PB2-E627K substitution preserves viral fitness of clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 HPAIV in birds 16 hours ago
- Mallard super-shedders of avian influenza exhibit distinct cloacal microbial abundance profiles 20 hours ago
- A digitally immune-optimized influenza vaccine broadly neutralizes swine and human H1N1 influenza viruses and protects from heterologous challenge 21 hours ago
[Go Top] [Close Window]


