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The role of the epithelium and epithelial cytokines in COPD

The epithelium and epithelial cytokines play a central role in the pathogenesis of COPD; understanding and characterising this could help to develop novel phenotyping strategies, identify new biomarkers and tailor treatment options1–5

Home EpiFundamentals The role of the epithelium and epithelial cytokines in COPD

Module synopsis

  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a growing global health crisis and is one of the top three leading causes of death worldwide.6,7 It is estimated that by 2060, COPD and related conditions will account for over 5.4 million deaths annually,6 with costs in the USA alone set to increase to more than $800 billion over the next 20 years6
  • Many patients continue to experience exacerbations and symptoms, despite receiving guideline-recommended therapy8
  • COPD is a heterogeneous, progressive inflammatory lower airway disease,7 for which the risk factors and biological mechanisms involved in disease initiation and progression are not fully understood7
  • The presentation of different phenotypes in COPD is impacted by the heterogeneity of underlying molecular mechanisms of disease, as well as variability in complex host-environment interactions9
  • The epithelium and epithelial cytokines play a key role in driving inflammation in COPD; understanding and characterising this could potentially help to phenotype patients based on the underlying pathological mechanism, identify new biomarkers and develop tailored treatment options1–5

1. Roan F, et al. J Clin Invest 2019;129:1441–1451; 2. Bartemes KR, Kita H. Clin Immunol 2012;143:222–235; 3. van den Berge M, Faiz A. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2022;205:139–140; 4. Aghapour M, et al. Eur Respir Rev 2022;31:210112; 5. Rabe KF, et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2023;208:395–405; 6. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease report. 2024. Available from: https://goldcopd.org/2024-gold-report/ (Accessed 11 April 2024); 7. Stolz D, et al. Lancet 2022;400:921–972; 8. Sansbury LB, et al. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2022;17:415–426; 9. Brightling C, Greening N. Eur Respir J 2019;54:1900651.

Professor Christopher Brightlings', Professor MeiLan Hans' and Professor Klaus Rabes' thoughts on the role of the epithelium and epithelial cytokines in COPD

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Introduction to COPD

Why do we need to understand the role of the epithelium and epithelial cytokines in COPD?
COPD is a complex, heterogeneous, progressive inflammatory lower airway disease,7 which is characterised by exacerbations, inflammation, tissue destruction and airway remodelling.7 Owing to its complexity, patients with COPD present with a wide variety of disease symptoms, comorbid conditions and underlying pathophysiology.7,10 The heterogeneity in COPD is driven by different molecular mechanisms (endotypes) and influenced by complex host-environment interactions at the protein-to-cell and tissue-to-organ level.7,9 Together, these interactions determine the clinical presentation of disease characteristics (phenotypes).7,9

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Contributors to disease phenotypes in COPD

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Airway inflammation is implicated in both the pathogenesis and progression of COPD.9 Research characterising the inflammatory pathways activated in different patients with COPD has revealed different disease phenotypes:9

  • Neutrophil-associated Type 1 and Type 3 immunity is the most common phenotype9,11
  • Eosinophil-associated Type 2 mediated immunity occurs in a smaller proportion of patients9,11
  • Autoimmunity is observed in some patients, particularly those with severe disease9,12

Exacerbations, characterised by an acute worsening of disease symptoms, also vary between patients with COPD.7 Exacerbations can be classified according to the underlying predominant inflammatory profile:7

  • A pro-inflammatory endotype (bacteria predominant)
  • A T helper type (Th)2 endotype (eosinophil predominant)
  • A Th1 endotype (virus predominant)
  • A low-inflammatory profile (pauci inflammatory)

The epithelium is repeatedly exposed to a range of environmental factors that have been shown to play a role in COPD disease pathogenesis, including tobacco smoke, infections and pollutants.4,7,13 When these triggers come into contact with the epithelium, epithelial cytokines, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), interleukin (IL)-33 and IL-25, are released, initiating a cascade of immune responses leading to inflammation and structural changes that contribute to the clinical features of airways disease.1,2,5,14–16

The global burden and unmet needs in COPD

Further research is needed to better diagnose and treat COPD
COPD remains a global health crisis as morbidity and mortality rates of chronic respiratory diseases, of which COPD is the leading contributor, continue to increase.7,9 COPD affects over 300 million people globally and is the third-leading cause of death worldwide,7,17​ accounting for approximately 3 million deaths annually.6

While COPD is known to be a complex and heterogeneous disease, current classification strategies, diagnostic tests and interventions offer limited options to tailor treatment based on patients’ symptoms or the underlying pathophysiology of the disease.7,10

The current mainstay treatment for patients with COPD is inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy in combination with long-acting inhaled bronchodilators, including long-acting β2-agonists and long-acting muscarinic antagonists;18 however, despite treatment, many patients continue to be symptomatic and experience exacerbations.8 Reflexive treatment of COPD exacerbations with oral corticosteroids or antibiotics (or both) has been the standard treatment approach for patients with COPD for >30 years.7

The current biomarkers typically used in COPD to inform inflammatory endotypes include eosinophil count and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), which can be used as predictive biomarkers of ICS responsiveness.5,19 A better understanding of the causative mechanisms of COPD and more sensitive diagnostic measures to detect associated biomarkers could enable the development of personalised prevention and treatment strategies for both stable disease and exacerbations at an earlier stage before further damage occurs.4,9,20

Pathophysiology: the role of the epithelium in COPD

The respiratory epithelium acts as a physicochemical barrier, which may be impaired by inhalation of airborne environmental triggers, leading to exaggerated inflammatory responses and airway remodelling.4 Epithelial cells provide the first line of defence by providing a barrier function through dense intracellular junctions and mechanical clearance of the airways.21 Therefore, epithelial barrier damage in COPD represents the potential link between triggers at the epithelium and COPD exacerbations or worsening of the disease.4

In COPD, a cycle of persistent, repeated injury and abnormal epithelium repair drives chronic airway inflammation and remodelling,13 which causes histological, cellular and molecular changes in the airways of patients with COPD.22 Chronic oxidative stress and inflammation induce premature epithelial senescence, contributing to impaired epithelial integrity, airway inflammation and remodelling.13 Furthermore, defective antioxidant, antiviral and damage repair mechanisms are thought to further increase susceptibility to airway epithelial dysfunction.13

Mucus hypersecretion and ciliary dysfunction in COPD are associated with deregulated basal cell differentiation and overproduction of the mucin MUC5AC by goblet cells of the bronchial epithelium.13,21 This leads to airway obstruction, which is associated with declining lung function as measured by forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and increased risk of exacerbations.21

Recent research outlining the concepts of fixed epithelial damage/activation and epithelial extrusion has further highlighted the potential role of epithelial cells in COPD as possible drivers of disease mechanisms.13,23 Additionally, chronic exposure to cigarette smoke, a key risk factor for COPD, can cause changes in the epithelium, including decreased ciliated epithelial cell number, increased goblet cell number, shortened cilia and reduced beat frequency.13

Dysregulated epithelial barrier function, and its subsequent contribution to further promote disease, is a central element of COPD, similar to asthma.24 These diseases share several features, including altered apico-basal polarisation, disrupted junctional protein expression or localisation, as well as reduced basal-to-apical transcytosis of immunoglobulins.24 In contrast, altered basal cell differentiation, reduced numbers of ciliated cells, goblet cell hyperplasia and squamous metaplasia, which are associated with mucus hypersecretion and altered mucociliary clearance of inhaled particles/pathogens, are more typically associated with COPD.24

To learn more about the role of the epithelium in other airway diseases, please view the ‘Role of the epithelium in asthma’ module here, the ‘United airway disease’ module here, and the ‘Chronic rhinosinusitis and the central role of the nasal epithelium’ module here.

Pathophysiology: epithelial cytokines are associated with clinical features of COPD

As well as structural changes, airway damage in COPD causes a release of pro-inflammatory mediators and damage-associated molecular patterns, such as IL-33 and TSLP from epithelial cells.25,26 These epithelial cytokines can play both upstream and downstream roles in regulating immune responses in COPD.26

IL-33
IL-33, an epithelial cytokine associated with the pathogenesis of COPD, exists in two forms, a reduced and oxidised form, which have been shown to activate distinct pathways in COPD.2,26–28

In-vivo studies have shown IL-33 to activate the suppression of the tumourigenicity 2 (ST2) inflammatory pathway, leading to inflammatory cell recruitment and the release of numerous cytokines, such as IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13.1,26 These cytokines can have a number of further downstream inflammatory effects, including inducing immunoglobulin (Ig)E production from B cells and activating eosinophils and mast cells.9 If dysregulated, the marked release of cytokines and the subsequent increase in airway inflammation can compromise the integrity of the airway, resulting in COPD symptoms and an increased exacerbation risk.9

The oxidisation of IL-33 has been shown to activate the receptor for advanced glycation end-products / epidermal growth factor receptor (RAGE/EGFR) pathway, leading to increased mucus production, airway obstruction and structural remodelling.28,29

IL-33 expression has been shown to be increased in patients with COPD compared with healthy controls.30,31 In two small cohort studies, IL-33 expression was increased in patients with very severe disease.32,33 In addition, IL-33 expression was also significantly correlated with smoking-pack years.30

TSLP
TSLP, another epithelial cytokine, has also been linked with the pathogenesis of COPD.34 Upon release from the airway epithelium, TSLP can drive a range of Type 2 and non-Type 2 processes with effects on a broad range of cells, including eosinophils, basophils, mast cells, airway smooth muscle cells, group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), dendritic cells, platelets, sensory neurones and macrophages.26 Activation of these cells can induce the production of classic Type 2 cytokines, such as IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13, leading to an inflammatory response.35

Research has shown that TSLP can directly promote the differentiation and response of Th2 cells in the lung to promote COPD through an independent pathway.36

Studies investigating TSLP expression in patients with COPD have shown higher levels of this epithelial cytokine in disease,37,38 including in induced sputum and broncho-alveolar lavage.34,37 Increased epithelial TSLP mRNA expression has also been identified in non-exacerbating patients with COPD who were exacerbation free for one month-prior to the study,34,37 and another study suggested that increased TSLP expression may be associated with distinct subtypes.39 Serum concentrations of TSLP and IL-17A have also been shown to be higher in patients with COPD than those in healthy controls.36 The cause of elevated TSLP mRNA expression has been associated with moderate-to-severe airflow obstruction and heavy smoking in patients with COPD.37,39

TSLP may drive the pathophysiology in COPD via effects on a variety of downstream cells. For example, airway smooth muscle cells isolated from patients with COPD have been found to show an increase in TSLP protein expression compared with healthy controls.40 Activation of airway smooth muscle cells by TSLP can promote airway remodelling, which is correlated with airflow limitation and decreased lung function in asthma.41

IL-25
Unlike IL-33 and TSLP, the role of IL-25 in the pathophysiology of COPD remains largely unknown. Although IL-25 has been shown to play a role in several inflammatory respiratory conditions,42 the potential link between IL-25 expression and clinical manifestations of COPD requires further research.

Evidence of the role of IL-25 in other respiratory diseases suggests that this epithelial cytokine may contribute to inflammation in COPD. For example, IL-25 has been shown to perpetuate the Type 2 inflammatory response through activation of Th2 cells, basophils, eosinophils and mast cells in other respiratory diseases.43 Additionally, airborne allergens, a key trigger in COPD, have been shown to cause a rapid release of pre-stored IL-25 and an increase in IL-25 mRNA transcription.42 Furthermore, in the airway epithelium, IL-25 induces proallergic chemokine production and cellular changes associated with COPD, including an increase in goblet cells and mucus secretion, epithelial cell hyperplasia and hyperreactivity.42


IL-25 has been shown to be significantly increased in patients with COPD who also have high levels of TSLP, compared with patients with COPD who have low levels of TSLP.38 This could reflect the fact that epithelial-derived IL-25 can function in an autocrine manner, causing the epithelium to produce more IL-25 as well as other cytokines that are known to drive inflammation in COPD, including TSLP.42,44

Pathophysiology: the inflammatory cascade of COPD

The epithelial-derived alarmins IL-33 and TSLP can influence both Type 2 and non-Type-2 inflammation.26 There are two main inflammatory phenotypes in COPD: neutrophilic and eosinophilic inflammation.9

Neutrophil-associated COPD
Neutrophil-associated COPD, with activation of the inflammasome, drives Type 1 and Type 3 inflammation and is the predominant inflammatory phenotype in patients with COPD.5,9,11 Following epithelial cell damage and activation from environmental triggers including cigarette smoke, epithelial cells can secrete factors, such as chemokine CXC ligand 8 (CXCL8), which attract neutrophils via the chemokine CXC receptor 1 (CXCR1) and CXCR2.9,45 Infiltrating neutrophils produce serine proteases and elastolytic enzymes such as matrix metalloproteases (MMP) 8,9 and proteinase-3, which can contribute to the hallmark disease features of COPD including mucus hypersecretion and fibrosis of the small airways.45 Macrophages can also be activated in this process and induce Th17 or group 3 innate lymphoid cells to produce IL‐17, which stimulates the release of IL‐6 and CXCL8 from epithelial cells.46 Despite being the most common phenotype in patients with COPD, currently, there is a lack of specific biomarkers for Type 1/3 phenotypes.5,47

Eosinophil-associated COPD
In contrast, eosinophilic inflammation, which drives Type 2 inflammation, is associated with Th2 cells and ILC2s, which secrete the Type 2 inflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 in response to epithelial-derived IL-33 and TSLP.9 Following this, eosinophils and other Type 2 inflammatory cells that have been activated by IL-4 and IL-13 traffic to the lungs.5 This is induced by the release of chemoattractants, including eotaxin-3/CCL26, from airway epithelial cells.5

The smoking status of patients with COPD, and exposure to cigarette smoke, has been shown to impact the inflammatory cascade, altering gene expression and release of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines by bronchial epithelial cells and circulating inflammatory cells.48,49 In particular, active smoking has been shown to reduce small airway intraepithelial eosinophil counts in patients with COPD.48

While there are associations between different disease pathologies and clinical manifestations in patients,11 there is not currently evidence to suggest that these are discrete to specific inflammatory profiles.50,51 Instead, there is increasing support for the use of biomarkers that enable a more thorough understanding of the underlying disease biology in different patients to allow for:52

  • Accurate identification and stratification of patients who are most likely to benefit from different therapeutics (predictive biomarkers)
  • Prediction of individual therapeutic responses to drugs (response biomarkers)
  • Segregation of patients based on their likely outcome responses (prognostic biomarkers)

This approach to disease management and treatment, termed precision medicine, aims to tailor treatment approaches to reflect the heterogeneity and complexity of COPD in different patients.51,52

EpiCentral Global COPD Simplified Inflammatory Cascade Infographic

Simplified Inflammatory Cascade

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Download the Inflammation in COPD Complex Inflammatory Pathway asset to learn more about the inflammatory pathways in COPD

Current and future biomarkers in COPD

Patients with COPD present with a variety of clinical characteristics that are driven by different inflammatory responses and can be further impacted by environmental factors, such as active smoking status.19,53 Monitoring clinical indicators can help clinicians to determine a patient’s disease phenotype and contribute to better understanding of the underlying disease biology.19

Some of the biomarkers that are currently used for COPD include blood and sputum eosinophil count and FeNO, which can be used as predictive biomarkers of ICS responsiveness.5,10 Additionally, exacerbation frequency and smoking status are also used to clinically assess patient phenotype and predict treatment response.5,10,19 However, data on the real-world application of these biomarkers within different patient populations to predict features of exacerbations in COPD have been inconsistent, suggesting the need for new biomarkers for COPD.5,10,19

Identifying new biomarkers is an active area of research in COPD as this could enable earlier detection and diagnosis of COPD at a stage before further damage occurs and may enable the detection of the disease phenotype and the identification of personalised prevention and treatment strategies for both stable disease and exacerbations.9,10,20

Examples of new biomarkers in COPD may include:

  • The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been investigated as a biomarker of systemic inflammation, reflecting the recruitment of both the main white blood cell populations (lymphocytes and neutrophils) in COPD.19 NLR can be investigated using samples from routine blood analysis and has been suggested as a biomarker of both disease severity and prognosis19
  • Exhaled breath sampling, termed breathomics, is emerging as an attractive choice to detect biomarker signatures of disease owing to its non-invasive nature and potential applications in diagnosis, disease monitoring54 and the identification of clinically treatable traits, such as airway inflammation,9,55 eosinophilia and risk of infection/exacerbation.56 For example, increasing evidence supports a role for FeNO as a biomarker that can be sampled from a simple breath test, which is correlated with activated Type 2 inflammation and sputum eosinophil count in patients with COPD.5,10 Indeed, breathomics could be used in predicting the inception of COPD, as well as inflammatory phenotyping, exacerbation prediction and treatment stratification in other diseases56
  • Transcriptome profiling is also being explored to identify gene expression signatures associated with COPD, such as those related to treatment response and lung function decline that can be identified from bronchial epithelial brushes, biopsies, lung tissue or peripheral blood3

As well as identifying new biomarkers, researchers are also exploring sites of the body for non-invasive biomarker detection, including detection at the nasal epithelium,3 for which a gene expression profile has been detected that can distinguish between patients with and without severe COPD.57 Further research investigating the role of the epithelium, and epithelial cytokines, within COPD may enable the identification of novel biomarkers, phenotyping strategies or targeted treatments.1–5

The clinical importance of understanding pathobiology and phenotypes in COPD

COPD is a highly complex, heterogeneous disease, and the features of COPD need to be reflected in interventions as part of a holistic approach to treatment.7 Improving understanding of the pathobiology of COPD, including the inflammatory pathways that result in the presentation of different disease symptoms, has been recognised as a priority to enable disease phenotyping and development of tailored treatments to improve patient care.3,7 Advancing knowledge of the role of the epithelium and epithelial cytokines may further clarify some of the aspects of COPD biology that are not fully understood, including:

  • How does COPD start? What are the early triggers? 
  • How do we identify people at risk earlier to avoid disease progression? 
  • What is the underlying biology in COPD responsible for the different phenotypes, and how can this be linked to novel treatment targets?

The content for this module was created with the support of Professor Christopher Brightling, Professor MeiLan Han and Professor Klaus Rabe.

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The importance of the epithelium and epithelial cytokines in uniting upper and lower airway diseases

To learn about united airway disease and the role of the epithelium in upper and lower airway diseases, visit the United Airway Diseases page

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References

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