Expression and localization of COX-2 in human airways and cultured airway epithelial cells

Cyclo-oxygenase is the rate-limiting enzyme in the prostanoid pathway. Although expression of the inducible isoform of cyclo-oxygenase (COX-2) is associated,vith cytokine-mediated inflammation, recent evidence suggests a homeostatic role for epithelial COX-2 in the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to examine the expression and localization of COX-2 in human airway epithelium both in vivo and in vitro, Human airway specimens from patients undergoing lung resection surgery for primary lung tumours (n=10) or nasal mucosal resection for non-inflammatory nasal obstruction (n=5) were examined for COX-2 expression by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. COX-2 expression was also studied in two human airway epithelial cell lines (BEAS-2B and A549) using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Northern and Western blot analysis. COX-2 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein were localized to individual columnar epithelial cells and to airway resident inflammatory cells in 9/10 tower and 5/5 upper airway specimens. Expression of COX-2 did not correlate with evidence of airway inflammation. Focal expression of COX-2 mRNA and protein was observed in bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue, Both COX-2 mRNA and protein were detected in BEAS-2B and A549 cells cultured under standard conditions. In conclusion, expression of COX-2 in human airway epithelium occurs in the upper and lower airways, is widespread in airway epithelial and airway resident inflam-matory cells in the absence of overt airway inflammation, and is detectable in cultured human airway epithelial cells in the absence of inflammatory cytokine stimulation. These data suggest a potentially important homeostatic role for COX-2 in the regu-lation of human airway contractility, inflammation and immune responses.