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Journal ArticleDOI

Induction of Airway Mucus Production By T Helper 2 (Th2) Cells: A Critical Role For Interleukin 4 In Cell Recruitment But Not Mucus Production

Lauren Cohn1, Robert J. Homer1, Anthony Marinov1, John A. Rankin1, Kim Bottomly1 
17 Nov 1997-Journal of Experimental Medicine (The Rockefeller University Press)-Vol. 186, Iss: 10, pp 1737-1747
TL;DR: It is suggested that IL-4 is crucial for Th2 cell recruitment to the lung and for induction of inflammation, but has no direct role in mucus production.
Abstract: Airway inflammation is believed to stimulate mucus production in asthmatic patients. Increased mucus secretion is an important clinical symptom and contributes to airway obstruction in asthma. Activated CD4 Th1 and Th2 cells have both been identified in airway biopsies of asthmatics but their role in mucus production is not clear. Using CD4 T cells from mice transgenic for the OVA-specific TCR, we studied the role of Th1 and Th2 cells in airway inflammation and mucus production. Airway inflammation induced by Th2 cells was comprised of eosinophils and lymphocytes; features found in asthmatic patients. Additionally, there was a marked increase in mucus production in mice that received Th2 cells and inhaled OVA, but not in mice that received Th1 cells. However, OVA-specific Th2 cells from IL-4–deficient mice were not recruited to the lung and did not induce mucus production. When this defect in homing was overcome by administration of TNF-α, IL-4 −/− Th2 cells induced mucus as effectively as IL-4 +/+ Th2 cells. These studies establish a role for Th2 cells in mucus production and dissect the effector functions of IL-4 in these processes. These data suggest that IL-4 is crucial for Th2 cell recruitment to the lung and for induction of inflammation, but has no direct role in mucus production.

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Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
18 Dec 1998-Science
TL;DR: In this paper, the type 2 cytokine IL-13, which shares a receptor component and signaling pathways with IL-4, was found to be necessary and sufficient for the expression of allergic asthma.
Abstract: The worldwide incidence, morbidity, and mortality of allergic asthma are increasing. The pathophysiological features of allergic asthma are thought to result from the aberrant expansion of CD4 + T cells producing the type 2 cytokines interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-5, although a necessary role for these cytokines in allergic asthma has not been demonstrable. The type 2 cytokine IL-13, which shares a receptor component and signaling pathways with IL-4, was found to be necessary and sufficient for the expression of allergic asthma. IL-13 induces the pathophysiological features of asthma in a manner that is independent of immunoglobulin E and eosinophils. Thus, IL-13 is critical to allergen-induced asthma but operates through mechanisms other than those that are classically implicated in allergic responses.

2,532 citations

Journal Article
TL;DR: In this article, the type 2 cytokine IL-13, which shares a receptor component and signaling pathways with IL-4, was found to be necessary and sufficient for the expression of allergic asthma.
Abstract: The worldwide incidence, morbidity, and mortality of allergic asthma are increasing. The pathophysiological features of allergic asthma are thought to result from the aberrant expansion of CD4 + T cells producing the type 2 cytokines interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-5, although a necessary role for these cytokines in allergic asthma has not been demonstrable. The type 2 cytokine IL-13, which shares a receptor component and signaling pathways with IL-4, was found to be necessary and sufficient for the expression of allergic asthma. IL-13 induces the pathophysiological features of asthma in a manner that is independent of immunoglobulin E and eosinophils. Thus, IL-13 is critical to allergen-induced asthma but operates through mechanisms other than those that are classically implicated in allergic responses.

2,429 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
18 Dec 1998-Science
TL;DR: This article showed that IL-4 receptor α chain-dependent pathway may underlie the genetic associations of asthma with both the human 5q31 locus and the IL4 receptor and showed that selective neutralization of IL-13, a cytokine related to interleukin-4 that also binds to the α chain of the IL 4 receptor, ameliorated asthma phenotype.
Abstract: The pathogenesis of asthma reflects, in part, the activity of T cell cytokines. Murine models support participation of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and the IL-4 receptor in asthma. Selective neutralization of IL-13, a cytokine related to IL-4 that also binds to the α chain of the IL-4 receptor, ameliorated the asthma phenotype, including airway hyperresponsiveness, eosinophil recruitment, and mucus overproduction. Administration of either IL-13 or IL-4 conferred an asthma-like phenotype to nonimmunized T cell–deficient mice by an IL-4 receptor α chain–dependent pathway. This pathway may underlie the genetic associations of asthma with both the human 5q31 locus and the IL-4 receptor.

1,904 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The targeted pulmonary expression of IL-13 causes a mononuclear and eosinophilic inflammatory response, mucus cell metaplasia, airway fibrosis, eotaxin production, airways obstruction, and nonspecific AHR in transgene-positive animals.
Abstract: Interleukin (IL)-13 is a pleiotropic cytokine produced in large quantities by activated CD4+ Th2 lymphocytes. To define further its potential in vivo effector functions, the Clara cell 10-kDa protein promoter was used to express IL-13 selectively in the lung, and the phenotype of the resulting transgenic mice was characterized. In contrast to transgene-negative littermates, the lungs of transgene-positive mice contained an inflammatory response around small and large airways and in the surrounding parenchyma. It was mononuclear in nature and contained significant numbers of eosinophils and enlarged and occasionally multinucleated macrophages. Airway epithelial cell hypertrophy, mucus cell metaplasia, the hyperproduction of neutral and acidic mucus, the deposition of Charcot-Leyden‐like crystals, and subepithelial airway fibrosis were also prominently noted. Eotaxin protein and mRNA were also present in large quantities in the lungs of the transgene-positive, but not the transgene-negative, mice. IL-4, IL-5, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-5 were not similarly detected. Physiological evaluations revealed significant increases in baseline airways resistance and airways hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to methacholine in transgene-positive animals. Thus, the targeted pulmonary expression of IL-13 causes a mononuclear and eosinophilic inflammatory response, mucus cell metaplasia, the deposition of Charcot-Leyden‐like crystals, airway fibrosis, eotaxin production, airways obstruction, and nonspecific AHR. IL-13 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of similar responses in asthma or other Th2-polarized tissue responses. J. Clin. Invest. 103:779-788 (1999).

1,695 citations


Cites background from "Induction of Airway Mucus Productio..."

  • ...Multiple lines of evidence suggest that allergen-specific CD4+ Th2 cells play an essential role in initiating and generating these abnormalities (8, 17, 27)....

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  • ...For example, in experiments using passively transferred in vitro polarized and activated Th2 cells, IL-4 plays an important role in T-cell recruitment from the vascular space and the migration of eosinophils from the lung into the airway, but it cannot account for the ability of Th2 cells to stimulate mucus elaboration or induce AHR to methacholine (17, 18)....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results from in-depth molecular studies of mouse models in light of the results from the first clinical trials targeting key cytokines in humans are discussed and the extraordinary heterogeneity of asthma is described.
Abstract: Asthma is a common disease that affects 300 million people worldwide. Given the large number of eosinophils in the airways of people with mild asthma, and verified by data from murine models, asthma was long considered the hallmark T helper type 2 (T(H)2) disease of the airways. It is now known that some asthmatic inflammation is neutrophilic, controlled by the T(H)17 subset of helper T cells, and that some eosinophilic inflammation is controlled by type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2 cells) acting together with basophils. Here we discuss results from in-depth molecular studies of mouse models in light of the results from the first clinical trials targeting key cytokines in humans and describe the extraordinary heterogeneity of asthma.

1,268 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Evidence is provided for the cellular localization of IL-5 mRNA in the bronchial mucosa of asthmatics and supports the concept that this cytokine regulates eosinophil function in Bronchial asthma.
Abstract: We have attempted to identify mRNA for IL-5 in endobronchial mucosal biopsies from asthmatics and controls, using the technique of in situ hybridization. Bronchial biopsies were obtained from 10 asthmatics and 9 nonatopic normal controls. A radio-labeled cRNA probe was prepared from an IL-5 cDNA and hybridized to permeabilized sections. These were washed extensively before processing for autoradiography. An IL-5-producing T cell clone derived from a patient with the hyper-IgE syndrome was used as a positive control. As a negative control, sections were also treated with a \"sense\" IL-5 probe. Specific hybridization signals for IL-5 mRNA were demonstrated within the bronchial mucosa in 6 out of the 10 asthmatic subjects. Cells exhibiting hybridization signals were located beneath the epithelial basement membrane. In contrast, there was no hybridization in the control group. No hybridization was observed with the sense probe. The six IL-5 mRNA-positive asthmatics tended to have more severe disease than the negative asthmatics, as assessed by symptoms and lung function, and showed a significant increase in the degree of infiltration of the bronchial mucosa by secreting (EG2+) eosinophils and activated (CD25+) T lymphocytes. Within the subjects who showed positive IL-5 mRNA, there was a correlation between IL-5 mRNA expression and the number of CD25+ and EG2+ cells and total eosinophil count. This study provides evidence for the cellular localization of IL-5 mRNA in the bronchial mucosa of asthmatics and supports the concept that this cytokine regulates eosinophil function in bronchial asthma.

214 citations


"Induction of Airway Mucus Productio..." refers background in this paper

  • ...Th2 cells secreting IL-4 and IL-5 have been shown to be present and activated in the bronchial wall of asthmatic individuals (9, 23)....

    [...]

Journal Article
TL;DR: Data indicate that multiple C-C chemokines are involved in the recruitment of particular leukocyte populations and that neutralization of MCP-1, but not RANTES or MIP-1alpha, significantly reduced airway hyperreactivity.
Abstract: Allergic airway inflammation is characterized by peribronchial leukocyte accumulation within the airway. Subsequent tissue damage leading to airway hyperreactivity is a result of activation of multiple leukocyte populations. Using an established model of allergic airway inflammation induced by intratracheal challenge with parasite (Schistosoma mansoni) egg Ag in presensitized mice, we have examined differential leukocyte recruitment. These studies have identified key chemokines involved in the accumulation of specific subsets of cells and the induction of airway hyperreactivity. In this study we have examined three C-C family chemokines, MCP-1, MIP-1alpha, and RANTES, which promote mononuclear cell- and eosinophil-specific recruitment to the airway. The in vivo neutralization of either MIP-1alpha or RANTES, but not MCP-1, significantly reduced the intensity of the eosinophil recruitment to the lung and airway during the allergic airway response by >50 and >60%, respectively. In contrast, neutralization of MCP-1 significantly reduced total leukocyte migration (>50% reduction), whereas neutralization of RANTES and MIP-1alpha had no significant affect on the overall leukocyte migration. Further examination of the effect of MCP-1 depletion indicated that both CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte subsets were decreased. Depletion of MCP-1 significantly reduced the airway hyperreactivity to near control levels, whereas depletion of MIP-1alpha or RANTES did not affect the intensity of airway hyperreactivity. These data indicate that multiple C-C chemokines are involved in the recruitment of particular leukocyte populations and that neutralization of MCP-1, but not RANTES or MIP-1alpha, significantly reduced airway hyperreactivity.

203 citations


"Induction of Airway Mucus Productio..." refers background in this paper

  • ...In addition, chemokines including RANTES, MIP-1a, MCP-1, and eotaxin, have been shown to have important roles in recruitment of lymphocytes and eosinophils to the lung (50, 51)....

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Journal Article
L Killar, G MacDonald, J West, A Woods, Kim Bottomly 
TL;DR: The activation of antigen-specific B cells by helper T cells appears to require IL 4/BSF-1 as a necessary but not sufficient signal for differentiation into antibody-forming cells.
Abstract: T cells can be subdivided based on cell surface markers, MHC restriction, function, and production of soluble factors. Analysis of the ability of cloned, Ia-restricted, L3T4+ T cells to induce an in vitro anti-hapten antibody response to hapten-carrier conjugates allowed the definition of three functional subtypes. To examine whether these functional subtypes also differed in the production of soluble mediators, supernatants of the cloned lines were examined for the production of T cell growth factors and factors inducing increased expression of Ia glycoproteins on small resting B cells. All of the cloned lines produced T cell growth factors that could be further differentiated by inhibition with monoclonal antibodies. None of the Ia-restricted, L3T4+ cloned T cell lines that failed to produce IL 4/BSF-1 could provide helper function. Thus, the activation of antigen-specific B cells by helper T cells appears to require IL 4/BSF-1 as a necessary but not sufficient signal for differentiation into antibody-forming cells.

201 citations

Journal Article
TL;DR: The ability of added IFN-gamma to synergize with TH2 indicates that the cognate interaction between TH2 and antigen presenting M phi-c does result in delivery of at least one of the signal required for M phI activation.
Abstract: IFN-gamma-producing (TH1) and IL-4-producing (TH2) clones were assayed for their ability to directly induce cytostatic activity in macrophages generated from splenic myeloid precursors (M phi-c). In the presence, but not in the absence, of antigen, TH1 clones activated the M phi-c to inhibit the growth of P815 tumor cells in vitro. TH2 clones were not able to activate such effector activity in the M phi-c. The M phi-c did effectively present Ag to the TH2 clones as evidenced by the proliferation of TH2 cells cultured with Ag in the presence, but not in the absence, of M phi-c. Therefore, although both TH1 and TH2 were activated by cognate interaction with antigen presenting M phi-c, only TH1:M phi-c interactions displayed reciprocity resulting in activation of the M phi-c. TH1-derived lymphokines or rIFN-gamma, in the presence of LPS, could activate proteose-peptone elicited M phi, resident peritoneal M phi, and M phi-c whereas neither TH2-derived lymphokines nor rIL4 could induce detectable activity in any of the 3 M phi populations. IFN-gamma, in the absence of LPS, could activate the elicited M phi and to a lesser and more variable degree, the resident M phi Only the M phi-c consistently required both IFN-gamma and LPS for induction of cytostatic activity. Since M phi-c consistently required at least two signals for activation, the ability of TH1-derived lymphokines to synergize with TH2 cells in M phi activation was examined. TH2 could activate the Ag-presenting M phi-c in the presence of IFN-gamma. The ability of added IFN-gamma to synergize with TH2 indicates that the cognate interaction between TH2 and antigen presenting M phi-c does result in delivery of at least one of the signal required for M phi activation.

192 citations

Journal Article
TL;DR: The data suggest that in vivo the 55-kDa TNF receptor mediates the induction of VCAM-1 and E-selectin expression and is critically involved in the control of leukocyte organ infiltration.
Abstract: Stimulation of leukocyte adhesion to the endothelium by TNF is mediated by the up-regulation of adhesion molecules on the endothelial cell surface. C57BL/6 mice and syngenic 55-kDa TNF receptor-deficient mice (TNFRp55-/- mice) were challenged with TNF, and the kinetics of intracellular adhesion molecule-1, ICAM-1, mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1, vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin expression were examined in various organs. TNF induced sustained VCAM-1 expression within 4 h in lung, liver, and kidney. In the lungs, but not in other organs, transient E-selectin expression was induced by TNF within 0.5 h and peaked at 4 h. The TNF-induced expression of VCAM-1 and E-selectin was found to be exclusively controlled by the 55-kDa TNF-receptor (TNFRp55) as demonstrated by analysis of TNFRp55-/- mice. Furthermore, TNF triggered mononuclear cell and neutrophil infiltration of lung, liver, and kidney in C57BL/6 mice but not TNFRp55-/- mice. Interestingly, MAdCAM-1 expression in the marginal sinus of the spleen was detected in wild-type mice but was absent in TNFRp55-/- mice. Together, the data suggest that in vivo the 55-kDa TNF receptor mediates the induction of VCAM-1 and E-selectin expression and is critically involved in the control of leukocyte organ infiltration.

187 citations


"Induction of Airway Mucus Productio..." refers background in this paper

  • ...TNF-a has previously been shown to increase both VCAM-1 and E-selectin expression on lung endothelium (45)....

    [...]

  • ...shown that IL-4 upregulates VCAM-1 expression on lung endothelial cells (45) and the interaction of VCAM-1 and VLA-4 on lymphocytes and eosinophils is critical for transendothelial migration of these cells to lung after antigen challenge in previously sensitized mice (44)....

    [...]