Role of airway epithelial cells in the accumulation and activation of T cells in allergic airway inflammation

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Airway epithelial cells are known to play an integral role in the airway responses thorough the production of cytokines/chemokines important in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. We could demonstrated that : 1) human airway epithelial cells had potentials to express and release RANTES and TARC , both being chemotactic for T lymphocytes. 2) They expressed adhesion molecules and co-stimulatory molecules such as ICAM-1 (CD54). B7-1 CCD80) and B7-2 (CD86). When T lymphocytes were co-incubated with airway epithelial cells, they were stimulated to release IL-4 and IL-13, which are important Th2-type cytokines. Therefore, airway epithelial cells can regulate not only cell migration and attachment but also activation of T cells. 3) In murine models of allergic asthma, there was an intense expression of TARC in the airway epithelium by immunohistochemistry. Above observations strongly suggested that airway epithelial cells play an important role in the regulation of T lymphocyte functions in allergic airway inflammation found in asthma.