The antimicrobial peptide S100A8/A9 produced by airway epithelium functions as a potent and direct regulator of macrophage phenotype and function

Abstract

In conclusion, for the first time, we demonstrate that airway epithelium from patients with COPD has a reduced capacity to support the phagocytic function of macrophages in response to acute NTHi exposure, and we identify the WNT/β-catenin signalling-modulated and epithelium-derived S100A8/A9 as a potent regulator of macrophage phenotype and function.