International Journal of COPD (Apr 2023)
Caveolin-1 Promotes the Imbalance of Th17/Treg in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease by Regulating Hsp70 Expression
Abstract
Tongsong Zhang,1,* Fangfang Shang,2,* Yanhui Ma,3 Yanxia Xu,1 Weihong Sun,4 Haiping Song1 1Department of Oncology, Affiliated Qingdao Central Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong, 266042, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pathology, No. 971 Hospital of People’s Liberation Army Navy, Qingdao, 266071, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Clinical Laboratory, Biotherapy Center, Affiliated Qingdao Central Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266042, People’s Republic of China; 4Affiliated Qingdao Central Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong, 266042, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Haiping Song; Yanxia Xu, Department of Oncology, Affiliated Qingdao Central Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Hospital, 127 Siliu South Road, Qingdao, 266042, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 532 8496 2202 ; +86 532 84962203, Fax +86 532-84963506, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: To investigate whether the expression of Hsp70 is associated with Cav-1 in promoting the imbalance of Th17/Treg cells in COPD.Methods: The plasma Cav-1, Hsp70 expression were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The frequencies of circulating Th17, Treg cells and Th17/Treg ratio were determined by flow cytometry. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from subjects were transfected with Cav-1 or control plasmids and Hsp70 plasmid.Results: We found that Cav-1 expression was lower but the levels of Hsp70 and Th17 cells were higher in COPD than in healthy control (HC). Hsp70 expressions were positively correlated with Cav-1 levels, Th17 cells, and Th17/Treg ratio in COPD but not in HC. Cav-1 over-expression resulted in an increase in Hsp70 and Th17 levels. Suppressing Hsp70 expressing by small interfering RNA (siRNA), the decline of Th17 frequency was observed in Cav-1-overexpressed PBMCs.Conclusion: Collectively, our results illuminate that Cav-1 contributes to the imbalance of Th17/Treg through potentially regulating Hsp70 expression.Keywords: caveolin-1, COPD, Hsp70, IL-17+ Th17 cells, Foxp3+ Treg cells
