Goblet cell hyperplasia as a feature of neutrophilic asthma.

Background: Goblet cell hyperplasia (GCH) is a pathological finding classically reported across asthma severity levels and usually associated with smoking. Multiple biological mechanisms may contribute to excessive mucus production.

Objective: We aimed to decipher the clinical meanings and biological pathways related to GCH in non-smokers with asthma.

Bronchial Epithelial IgA Secretion Is Impaired in Asthma. Role of IL-4/IL-13.

Rationale: Asthma is associated with increased lung IgE production, but whether the secretory IgA system is affected in this disease remains unknown.

Objectives: We explored mucosal IgA transport in human asthma and its potential regulation by T-helper cell type 2 inflammation.

Methods: Bronchial biopsies from asthma and control subjects were assayed for bronchial epithelial polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) expression and correlated to T-helper cell type 2 biomarkers.

Epithelial ciliated beating cells essential for ex vivo ALI culture growth.

Background: Bronchial epithelium plays a key role in orchestrating innate and adaptive immunity. The fate of ex vivo airway epithelial cultures growing at the air liquid interface (ALI) derived from human endobronchial biopsies or brushings is not easy to predict. Calibrating and differentiating these cells is a long and expensive process requiring rigorous expertise.

Bronchial Epithelial Cells from Asthmatic Patients Display Less Functional HLA-G Isoform Expression.

Not all asthmatic patients adequately respond to current available treatments, such as inhaled corticosteroids or omalizumab. New treatments will aim to target the bronchial epithelium-immune response interaction using different pathways. HLA-G is involved in immunomodulation and may promote epithelial cell differentiation and proliferation.

Human bronchial epithelium orchestrates dendritic cell activation in severe asthma.

The innate immune response is impaired in asthma, with increased epithelial release of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL)8, interleukin (IL)-33 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). We hypothesised that dendritic cells might modulate the hyperresponsive epithelium in severe asthma.For this purpose, we investigated epithelial-dendritic crosstalk in normal and diseased conditions, and because ultrafine particulate matter may affect asthmatic airways, we investigated its impact on this crosstalk.

CD146 expression in human breast cancer cell lines induces phenotypic and functional changes observed in Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition.

Background: Metastasis is an important step in tumor progression leading to a disseminated and often incurable disease. First steps of metastasis include down-regulation of cell adhesion molecules, alteration of cell polarity and reorganization of cytoskeleton, modifications associated with enhanced migratory properties and resistance of tumor cells to anoikis. Such modifications resemble Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT).

Stage specific over-expression of the dominant negative Ikaros 6 reveals distinct role of Ikaros throughout human B-cell differentiation.

Ikaros is a transcription factor that acts both as an activator and as an inhibitor of gene expression in several hematopoietic lineages. Ikaros functions in hematopoiesis have mostly been studied in mice, and are notably crucial for lymphopoiesis. Deregulation of Ikaros expression was evidenced in several leukemia subtypes, including pre-B-ALL.