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Ion transport mechanisms for smoke inhalation–injured airway epithelial barrier

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Abstract

Smoke inhalation injury is the leading cause of death in firefighters and victims. Inhaled hot air and toxic smoke are the predominant hazards to the respiratory epithelium. We aimed to analyze the effects of thermal stress and smoke aldehyde on the permeability of the airway epithelial barrier. Transepithelial resistance (RTE) and short-circuit current (ISC) of mouse tracheal epithelial monolayers were digitized by an Ussing chamber setup. Zonula occludens-1 tight junctions were visualized under confocal microscopy. A cell viability test and fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran assay were performed. Thermal stress (40 °C) decreased RTE in a two-phase manner. Meanwhile, thermal stress increased ISC followed by its decline. Na+ depletion, amiloride (an inhibitor for epithelial Na+ channels [ENaCs]), ouabain (a blocker for Na+/K+-ATPase), and CFTRinh-172 (a blocker of cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator [CFTR]) altered the responses of RTE and ISC to thermal stress. Steady-state 40 °C increased activity of ENaCs, Na+/K+-ATPase, and CFTR. Acrolein, one of the main oxidative unsaturated aldehydes in fire smoke, eliminated RTE and ISC. Na+ depletion, amiloride, ouabain, and CFTRinh-172 suppressed acrolein-sensitive ISC, but showed activating effects on acrolein-sensitive RTE. Thermal stress or acrolein disrupted zonula occludens-1 tight junctions, increased fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran permeability but did not cause cell death or detachment. The synergistic effects of thermal stress and acrolein exacerbated the damage to monolayers. In conclusion, the paracellular pathway mediated by the tight junctions and the transcellular pathway mediated by active and passive ion transport pathways contribute to impairment of the airway epithelial barrier caused by thermal stress and acrolein.

Thermal stress and acrolein are two essential determinants for smoke inhalation injury, impairing airway epithelial barrier.

Transcellular ion transport pathways via the ENaC, CFTR, and Na/K-ATPase are interrupted by both thermal stress and acrolein, one of the most potent smoke toxins.

Heat and acrolein damage the integrity of the airway epithelium through suppressing and relocating the tight junctions.

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Abbreviations

ENaCs:

Epithelial Na+ channels

CFTR:

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator

R TE :

Transepithelial resistance

I SC :

Short-circuit current

MTE:

Mouse tracheal epithelial

FITC:

Fluorescein isothiocyanate

HBE:

Human bronchial epithelial

DMSO:

Dimethyl sulfoxide

ZO-1:

Zonula occludens-1

P1:

Phase 1

P2:

Phase 2

ASI:

Amiloride-sensitive ISC

KCs:

K+ channels

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

CaCCs:

Ca2+-activated Cl− channels

NKCC:

Na+/K+/2Cl

MAPK:

Mitogen-activated protein kinase

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Funding

This work was supported by the grants from the National Institute of Health (NIH HL134828) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC 81670010).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, 11937 US Hwy 271, Tyler, TX, 75708, USA

    Jianjun Chang, Zaixing Chen, Runzhen Zhao & Hong-Long Ji

  2. Institute of Health Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China

    Jianjun Chang

  3. School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China

    Zaixing Chen

  4. Department of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China

    Hong-Guang Nie

  5. Texas Lung Injury Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, 75708, USA

    Hong-Long Ji

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  1. Jianjun Chang
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Contributions

Hong-Long Ji conceived study, designed experiments, edited manuscript, and approved submission. Jianjun Chang, Zaixing Chen, and Hong-Guang Nie performed experiments, analyzed data, and plotted graphs. Jianjun Chang, Runzhen Zhao, Hong-Guang Nie, and Zaixing Chen prepared manuscript.

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Correspondence to Hong-Guang Nie or Hong-Long Ji.

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Chang, J., Chen, Z., Zhao, R. et al. Ion transport mechanisms for smoke inhalation–injured airway epithelial barrier. Cell Biol Toxicol 36, 571–589 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10565-020-09545-1

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