Type 2 inflammation in asthma develops with exposure to stimuli to include inhaled allergens from house dust mites (HDM). Features include mucus hypersecretion and the formation of pro-secretory ion transport characterised by elevated basal Cl current. Studies using human sinonasal epithelial cells treated with HDM extract report a higher protease activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) agonist-induced calcium mobilisation that may be related to airway sensitisation by allergen-associated proteases. Herein, this study aimed to investigate the effect of HDM on Ca signalling and inflammatory responses in asthmatic airway epithelial cells. Primary bronchial epithelial cells (hPBECs) from asthma donors cultured at air-liquid interface were used to assess electrophysiological, Ca signalling and inflammatory responses. Differences were observed regarding Ca signalling in response to PAR-2 agonist 2-Furoyl-LIGRLO-amide (2-FLI), and equivalent short-circuit current (I) in response to trypsin and 2-FLI, in ALI-asthma and healthy hPBECs. HDM treatment led to increased levels of intracellular cations (Ca, Na) and significantly reduced the 2-FLI-induced change of I in asthma cells. Apical HDM-induced Ca mobilisation was found to mainly involve the activation of PAR-2 and PAR-4-associated store-operated Ca influx and TRPV1. In contrast, PAR-2, PAR-4 antagonists and TRPV1 antagonist only showed slight impact on basolateral HDM-induced Ca mobilisation. HDM trypsin-like serine proteases were the main components leading to non-amiloride sensitive I and also increased interleukin-33 (IL-33) and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) from asthma hPBECs. These studies add further insight into the complex mechanisms associated with HDM-induced alterations in cell signalling and their relevance to pathological changes within asthma.
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