Pneumologie 2015; 69 - P539
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1544862

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-related cell adhesion molecules are co-expressed in the human lung and their expression can be modulated in bronchial epithelial cells by non-typable Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, TLR3, and type I and II interferons

E Klaile 1, TE Klassert 1, I Scheffrahn 2, MM Müller 1, A Heinrich 3, KA Heyl 2, H Dienemann 4, C Grünewald 4, R Bals 5, BB Singer 2, H Slevogt 1
  • 1Septomics Research Center, Jena University Hospital
  • 2Institute of Anatomy, University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen
  • 3Septomics Research Center, Jena University Hospital; Institute of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin
  • 4Surgical Department, Thoraxklinik, Heidelberg University; Member of the German Center for Lung Research
  • 5Klinik für Innere Medizin V, Universitätskliniken des Saarlandes

The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-related cell adhesion molecules CEACAM1 (BGP, CD66a), CEACAM5 (CEA, CD66e) and CEACAM6 (NCA, CD66c) are expressed in human lung. They play a role in innate and adaptive immunity and are targets for various bacterial and viral adhesins. Two pathogens that colonize the normally sterile lower respiratory tract in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are non-typable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) and Moraxella catarrhalis. Both bind to CEACAMs and elicit a variety of cellular reactions, including bacterial internalization, cell adhesion and apoptosis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression pattern and the regulation of CEACAM 1, 5 and 6 in human lung tissue.

Immunohistochemical analysis of lung sections showed the most frequent and intense staining for CEACAM1, CEACAM5 and CEACAM6 in bronchial and alveolar epithelium, but revealed no significant differences in connection with COPD, smoking status and granulocyte infiltration. In primary bronchial epithelial cells, mRNA expression of CEACAM1 isoforms CEACAM1 – 4L, CEACAM1 – 4S, CEACAM1 – 3L and CEACAM1 – 3S were up-regulated by interferons alpha, beta and gamma, as well as the TLR3 agonist polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C). Interferon-gamma also increased CEACAM5 expression. These results were confirmed on protein level by FACS analysis. Importantly, also NTHI and M. catarrhalis increased CEACAM1 mRNA levels. This effect was independent of the ability to bind to CEACAM1. The expression of CEACAM6 was not affected by any treatment or bacterial infection.While we did not find a direct correlation between CEACAM1 expression and COPD, the COPD-associated bacteria NTHi and M. catarrhalis were able to increase the expression of their own receptor on host cells. Further, the data suggest a role for CEACAM1 and CEACAM5 in the phenomenon of increased host susceptibility to bacterial infection upon viral challenge in the human respiratory tract.