Polyamine-mediated reduction in human airway epithelial migration in response to wounding is PGE2dependent through decreases in COX-2 and cPLA2protein levels

Abstract

Both ornithine decarboxylase inhibition to deplete polyamines and cyclooxygenase inhibition diminish the migration response to injury of human airway epithelial cells in tissue culture monolayers by ∼75%. Restoration of normal migration responses is achieved in the polyamine depleted system either by exogenous reconstitution of polyamines or the addition of prostaglandin E2(PGE2). However, only PGE2was able to restore migration in the cyclooxygenase-inhibited systems. Western blot for cyclooxygenase-2 and cytosolic phospholipase A2protein levels and ELISAs for PGE2secretion demonstrate dramatic increases over 24–48 h after monolayer wounding. These increases are completely abolished by polyamine depletion or cyclooxygenase inhibition. We conclude that polyamine inhibition decreases cellular migration in response to injury in airway epithelial cells at least in part through inhibiting normal PGE2production in response to injury. This may be brought about by decreases in cytosolic phospholipase A2and cyclooxygenase-2 protein levels.