BACKGROUND:

Eotaxin is implicated in asthmatic eosinophilia. Oncostatin M (OSM) causes eotaxin release from fibroblasts.

OBJECTIVE:

We sought to examine the effects and mechanism of action of OSM and other IL-6 family cytokines on eotaxin release from human airway smooth muscle cells.

METHODS:

Eotaxin 1 release was measured by means of ELISA. Western blotting was used to examine mitogen-activated protein kinase and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT-3) phosphorylation. Eotaxin promoter activity was analyzed in cells transfected with wild-type STAT-3, a mutant form of STAT-3 that cannot be phosphorylated, and a constitutively active form of STAT-3. The mRNA and protein expression of IL-4R alpha, the signaling receptor for IL-4 and IL-13, was evaluated by means of real-time PCR and flow cytometry, respectively.

RESULTS:

OSM increased eotaxin 1 release and augmented IL-4- or IL-13-induced eotaxin release, whereas other IL-6 family cytokines did not. OSM caused a greater increase in STAT-3 phosphorylation and STAT-3-mediated gene transcription than other IL-6 family cytokines. OSM increased eotaxin promoter activity and augmented IL-13- and IL-4-induced increases in promoter activity. The constitutively active form of STAT-3 increased eotaxin promoter activity, whereas the mutant form of STAT-3 that cannot be phosphorylated significantly reduced eotaxin promoter activity induced by OSM or IL-4 plus OSM. OSM increased IL-4R alpha mRNA and protein levels.

CONCLUSIONS:

OSM induces eotaxin 1 expression in human airway smooth muscle cells by a mechanism involving STAT-3. OSM synergizes with IL-13 and IL-4 to increase eotaxin 1 expression, possibly as a result of effects on IL-4R alpha expression.