Abstract

Airway epithelium is the first body surface to contact inhaled irritants and report danger. We studied how epithelial cells recognize and respond to protease, which is a critical component of many allergens that provoke asthma. In a murine model, the aeroallergen alkaline protease 1 (Alp1) of Aspergillus sp. elicited helper T (Th) cell-dependent lung eosinophilia. Bronchiolar club cells responded rapidly to Alp1 by coordinating the accumulation of allergic immune cells in the lung. Alp1 degraded bronchiolar cell junctions, and club cells within the bronchioles propagated this signal via calcium and calcineurin to incite inflammation. In two human cohorts, we linked fungal sensitization and asthma with SNP/protein expression of the mechanosensitive calcium channel, TRPV4. TRPV4 was also necessary and sufficient for club cells to sensitize mice to Alp1. Thus, club cells detect junction damage as mechanical stress, which signals danger via TRPV4, calcium and calcineurin to initiate Th cell sensitization.\n\nGraphical Abstract\n\nO_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=87 SRC=\"FIGDIR/small/773382v1_ufig1.gif\" ALT=\"Figure 1\">\nView larger version (24K):\norg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@c03f95org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@18e54b6org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@15ba395org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1509e5c_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG