Breaking Barriers: The Detrimental Effects of Combined Ragweed and House Dust Mite Allergen Extract Exposure on the Bronchial Epithelium
(1) Background: Respiratory allergens, particularly ragweed (RW) pollen and house dust mites (HDMs), are major triggers of respiratory inflammation and allergic diseases. This study investigated the impact of single- versus combined-allergen exposure on the barrier function of normal human bronchial...
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2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/8/4113 |
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| author | Răzvan-Ionuț Zimbru Manuela Grijincu Gabriela Tănasie Elena-Larisa Zimbru Florina-Maria Bojin Roxana-Maria Buzan Tudor-Paul Tamaș Monica-Daniela Cotarcă Octavia Oana Harich Raul Pătrașcu Laura Haidar Elena Ciurariu Karina Cristina Marin Virgil Păunescu Carmen Panaitescu |
| author_facet | Răzvan-Ionuț Zimbru Manuela Grijincu Gabriela Tănasie Elena-Larisa Zimbru Florina-Maria Bojin Roxana-Maria Buzan Tudor-Paul Tamaș Monica-Daniela Cotarcă Octavia Oana Harich Raul Pătrașcu Laura Haidar Elena Ciurariu Karina Cristina Marin Virgil Păunescu Carmen Panaitescu |
| author_sort | Răzvan-Ionuț Zimbru |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | (1) Background: Respiratory allergens, particularly ragweed (RW) pollen and house dust mites (HDMs), are major triggers of respiratory inflammation and allergic diseases. This study investigated the impact of single- versus combined-allergen exposure on the barrier function of normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells cultured at the air–liquid interface (ALI). (2) Methods: NHBE cells were exposed to RW pollen extract (200 µg/mL), HDM extract (200 µg/mL) and their combination at varying concentrations (200 µg/mL, 100 µg/mL, 50 µg/mL, 25 µg/mL). Additional groups included a mixture of Amb a 1, Amb a 11 and Amb a 12 (100 mg/mL) and combinations of Der p 1 with the ragweed allergens (50 mg/mL, 100 µg/mL). Transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) was recorded over 72 hours to assess barrier integrity, and immunofluorescence (IF) staining for zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) was performed to evaluate tight junction alterations. (3) Results: TEER measurements showed a significant reduction in epithelial barrier integrity following allergen exposure, with the most pronounced disruption observed with the combined exposure to RW and HDM groups. IF staining confirmed extensive tight junction damage, highlighting their synergistic impact. (4) Conclusions: These findings emphasize the importance of assessing cumulative allergen effects, as combined exposure may exacerbate epithelial dysfunction and represent a key aspect in the management of allergic rhinitis and asthma. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-49d85358df814a76b3d4b8b0fea7e1a7 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-49d85358df814a76b3d4b8b0fea7e1a72025-08-20T03:14:19ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-04-01158411310.3390/app15084113Breaking Barriers: The Detrimental Effects of Combined Ragweed and House Dust Mite Allergen Extract Exposure on the Bronchial EpitheliumRăzvan-Ionuț Zimbru0Manuela Grijincu1Gabriela Tănasie2Elena-Larisa Zimbru3Florina-Maria Bojin4Roxana-Maria Buzan5Tudor-Paul Tamaș6Monica-Daniela Cotarcă7Octavia Oana Harich8Raul Pătrașcu9Laura Haidar10Elena Ciurariu11Karina Cristina Marin12Virgil Păunescu13Carmen Panaitescu14Center of Immuno-Physiology and Biotechnologies, Department of Functional Sciences, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaCenter of Immuno-Physiology and Biotechnologies, Department of Functional Sciences, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaCenter of Immuno-Physiology and Biotechnologies, Department of Functional Sciences, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaCenter of Immuno-Physiology and Biotechnologies, Department of Functional Sciences, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaCenter of Immuno-Physiology and Biotechnologies, Department of Functional Sciences, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaCenter of Immuno-Physiology and Biotechnologies, Department of Functional Sciences, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaCenter of Immuno-Physiology and Biotechnologies, Department of Functional Sciences, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaCenter of Immuno-Physiology and Biotechnologies, Department of Functional Sciences, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaCenter of Immuno-Physiology and Biotechnologies, Department of Functional Sciences, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaCenter of Immuno-Physiology and Biotechnologies, Department of Functional Sciences, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaCenter of Immuno-Physiology and Biotechnologies, Department of Functional Sciences, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaCenter of Immuno-Physiology and Biotechnologies, Department of Functional Sciences, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaENT Department, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaCenter of Immuno-Physiology and Biotechnologies, Department of Functional Sciences, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaCenter of Immuno-Physiology and Biotechnologies, Department of Functional Sciences, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania(1) Background: Respiratory allergens, particularly ragweed (RW) pollen and house dust mites (HDMs), are major triggers of respiratory inflammation and allergic diseases. This study investigated the impact of single- versus combined-allergen exposure on the barrier function of normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells cultured at the air–liquid interface (ALI). (2) Methods: NHBE cells were exposed to RW pollen extract (200 µg/mL), HDM extract (200 µg/mL) and their combination at varying concentrations (200 µg/mL, 100 µg/mL, 50 µg/mL, 25 µg/mL). Additional groups included a mixture of Amb a 1, Amb a 11 and Amb a 12 (100 mg/mL) and combinations of Der p 1 with the ragweed allergens (50 mg/mL, 100 µg/mL). Transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) was recorded over 72 hours to assess barrier integrity, and immunofluorescence (IF) staining for zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) was performed to evaluate tight junction alterations. (3) Results: TEER measurements showed a significant reduction in epithelial barrier integrity following allergen exposure, with the most pronounced disruption observed with the combined exposure to RW and HDM groups. IF staining confirmed extensive tight junction damage, highlighting their synergistic impact. (4) Conclusions: These findings emphasize the importance of assessing cumulative allergen effects, as combined exposure may exacerbate epithelial dysfunction and represent a key aspect in the management of allergic rhinitis and asthma.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/8/4113allergybronchial epitheliumepithelial barrier integrityragweed pollenhouse dust mites (HDMs)in vitro cell cultures |
| spellingShingle | Răzvan-Ionuț Zimbru Manuela Grijincu Gabriela Tănasie Elena-Larisa Zimbru Florina-Maria Bojin Roxana-Maria Buzan Tudor-Paul Tamaș Monica-Daniela Cotarcă Octavia Oana Harich Raul Pătrașcu Laura Haidar Elena Ciurariu Karina Cristina Marin Virgil Păunescu Carmen Panaitescu Breaking Barriers: The Detrimental Effects of Combined Ragweed and House Dust Mite Allergen Extract Exposure on the Bronchial Epithelium Applied Sciences allergy bronchial epithelium epithelial barrier integrity ragweed pollen house dust mites (HDMs) in vitro cell cultures |
| title | Breaking Barriers: The Detrimental Effects of Combined Ragweed and House Dust Mite Allergen Extract Exposure on the Bronchial Epithelium |
| title_full | Breaking Barriers: The Detrimental Effects of Combined Ragweed and House Dust Mite Allergen Extract Exposure on the Bronchial Epithelium |
| title_fullStr | Breaking Barriers: The Detrimental Effects of Combined Ragweed and House Dust Mite Allergen Extract Exposure on the Bronchial Epithelium |
| title_full_unstemmed | Breaking Barriers: The Detrimental Effects of Combined Ragweed and House Dust Mite Allergen Extract Exposure on the Bronchial Epithelium |
| title_short | Breaking Barriers: The Detrimental Effects of Combined Ragweed and House Dust Mite Allergen Extract Exposure on the Bronchial Epithelium |
| title_sort | breaking barriers the detrimental effects of combined ragweed and house dust mite allergen extract exposure on the bronchial epithelium |
| topic | allergy bronchial epithelium epithelial barrier integrity ragweed pollen house dust mites (HDMs) in vitro cell cultures |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/8/4113 |
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