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Programmed cell death ligand 2 regulates T(H)9 differentiation and induction of chronic airway hyperreactivity.
J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012 Nov 19;
Authors: Kerzerho J, Maazi H, Speak AO, Szely N, Lombardi V, Khoo B, Geryak S, Lam J, Soroosh P, Van Snick J, Akbari O
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Asthma is defined as a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways; however, the underlying physiologic and immunologic processes are not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether T(H)9 cells develop in vivo in a model of chronic airway hyperreactivity (AHR) and what factors control this development. METHOD: We have developed a novel chronic allergen exposure model using the clinically relevant antigen Aspergillus fumigatus to determine the time kinetics of T(H)9 development in vivo. RESULTS: T(H)9 cells were detectable in the lungs after chronic allergen exposure. The number of T(H)9 cells directly correlated with the severity of AHR, and anti-IL-9 treatment decreased airway inflammation. Moreover, we have identified programmed cell death ligand (PD-L) 2 as a negative regulator of T(H)9 cell differentiation. Lack of PD-L2 was associated with significantly increased TGF-? and IL-1? levels in the lungs, enhanced pulmonary T(H)9 differentiation, and higher morbidity in the sensitized mice. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that PD-L2 plays a pivotal role in the regulation of T(H)9 cell development in chronic AHR, providing novel strategies for modulating adaptive immunity during chronic allergic responses.
PMID: 23174661 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]
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