Oxidized CaMKII promotes asthma through the activation of mast cells

JCI Insight. 2017 Jan 12;2(1):e90139. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.90139.

Abstract

Oxidation of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (ox-CaMKII) by ROS has been associated with asthma. However, the contribution of ox-CaMKII to the development of asthma remains to be fully characterized. Here, we tested the effect of ox-CaMKII on IgE-mediated mast cell activation in an allergen-induced mouse model of asthma using oxidant-resistant CaMKII MMVVδ knockin (MMVVδ) mice. Compared with WT mice, the allergen-challenged MMVVδ mice displayed less airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and inflammation. These MMVVδ mice exhibited reduced levels of ROS and diminished recruitment of mast cells to the lungs. OVA-activated bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) from MMVVδ mice showed a significant inhibition of ROS and ox-CaMKII expression. ROS generation was dependent on intracellular Ca2+ concentration in BMMCs. Importantly, OVA-activated MMVVδ BMMCs had suppressed degranulation, histamine release, leukotriene C4, and IL-13 expression. Adoptive transfer of WT, but not MMVVδ, BMMCs, reversed the alleviated AHR and inflammation in allergen-challenged MMVVδ mice. The CaMKII inhibitor KN-93 significantly suppressed IgE-mediated mast cell activation and asthma. These studies support a critical but previously unrecognized role of ox-CaMKII in mast cells that promotes asthma and suggest that therapies to reduce ox-CaMKII may be a novel approach for asthma.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Asthma / metabolism*
  • Asthma / physiopathology
  • Benzylamines / administration & dosage
  • Benzylamines / pharmacology
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Hypersensitivity, Immediate / metabolism
  • Inflammation
  • Lung / metabolism*
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung / physiopathology
  • Mast Cells / cytology*
  • Mast Cells / drug effects
  • Mast Cells / immunology
  • Mice
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / metabolism
  • Sulfonamides / administration & dosage
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology

Substances

  • Benzylamines
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Sulfonamides
  • KN 93
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2