House dust mite allergens induce Ca²⁺ signalling and alarmin responses in asthma airway epithelial cells

Type 2 inflammation in asthma develops with exposure to stimuli to include inhaled allergens from house dust mites (HDM). Features include mucus hypersecretion and the formation of pro-secretory ion transport characterised by elevated basal Cl⁻ current. Studies using human sinonasal epithelial cells treated with HDM extract report a higher protease activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) agonist-induced calcium mobilisation that may be related to airway sensitisation by allergen-associated proteases. Herein, this study aimed to investigate the effect of HDM on Ca²⁺ signalling and inflammatory responses in asthmatic airway epithelial cells. Primary bronchial epithelial cells (hPBECs) from asthma donors cultured at air-liquid interface were used to assess electrophysiological, Ca²⁺ signalling and inflammatory responses. Differences were observed regarding Ca2⁺ signalling in response to PAR-2 agonist 2-Furoyl-LIGRLO-amide (2-FLI), and equivalent short-circuit current (I_eq) in response to trypsin and 2-FLI, in ALI-asthma and healthy hPBECs. HDM treatment led to increased levels of intracellular cations (Ca²⁺, Na+) and significantly reduced the 2-FLI-induced change of I_eq in asthma cells. Apical HDM-induced Ca²⁺ mobilisation was found to mainly involve the activation of PAR-2 and PAR-4-associated store-operated Ca²⁺ influx and TRPV1. In contrast, PAR-2, PAR-4 antagonists and TRPV1 antagonist only showed slight impact on basolateral HDM-induced Ca²⁺ mobilisation. HDM trypsin-like serine proteases were the main components leading to non-amiloride sensitive I_eq and also increased interleukin-33 (IL-33) and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) from asthma hPBECs. These studies add further insight into the complex mechanisms associated with HDM-induced alterations in cell signalling and their relevance to pathological changes within asthma.