Introduction Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the conducting airways which is exacerbated by environmental exposures, such as viral infections. Bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) together with underlying fibroblasts form an epithelial mesenchymal trophic unit (EMTU) that maintains normal tissue homeostasis. In asthma the EMTU is dysregulated. Recent evidence suggests that viral infections activate the epithelial barrier resulting in mediator release which could potentially activate fibroblasts. Therefore, we hypothesised that exposure to viruses activates inflammatory and anti-viral responses in the EMTU.

Methods The EMTU was modelled using a co-culture system of polarised BECs (16HBE14o-) and fibroblasts (MRC5s) maintained on the apical and basolateral surface of a nanoporous membrane respectively. After 6 days the model was challenged apically with poly (I:C) (a viral mimetic) and barrier responses were determined by measuring transepithelial resistance (TER) while cytokine release was determined by ELISA.

Results Following poly (I:C) stimulation a significant reduction in TER was observed in both the EMTU model and BEC monocultures. However, the EMTU model maintained a higher TER at 6–24 h after challenge. With regards to cytokine secretion, poly (I:C) stimulation significantly induced pro-inflammatory (IL-6, IL-8, GM-CSF and IL-1α) and anti-viral (IP-10) mediator release from BEC but not fibroblast monocultures. In the EMTU model, basolateral IL-6, IL-8, GM-CSF and IP-10 responses to poly (I:C) were significantly enhanced compared to BEC monocultures. In addition, basolateral pro-inflammatory (IL-6, IL-8 and GM-CSF) but not antiviral (IP-10) responses to poly (I:C) were abrogated in the EMTU model after pre-incubation with IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra). Furthermore, direct stimulation with IL-1α induced IL-6 and IL-8 release in the EMTU model and fibroblast monocultures but not in BEC monocultures.

Conclusions Poly (I:C) activates inflammatory and anti-viral responses in BEC monocultures and fibroblast co-culture models of the EMTU. These responses were enhanced in the co-culture model suggesting that the EMTU is activated. Inflammatory but not anti-viral responses were mediated by epithelial-derived IL-1α acting on the underlying fibroblasts. This may have important consequences in promotion of inflammation and airway remodelling in viral-induced exacerbations of asthma.