Eosinophils regulate dendritic cells and Th2 pulmonary immune responses following allergen provocation

J Immunol. 2011 Dec 1;187(11):6059-68. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1102299. Epub 2011 Nov 2.

Abstract

Reports have recently suggested that eosinophils have the potential to modulate allergen-dependent pulmonary immune responses. The studies presented expand these reports demonstrating in the mouse that eosinophils are required for the allergen-dependent Th2 pulmonary immune responses mediated by dendritic cells (DCs) and T lymphocytes. Specifically, the recruitment of peripheral eosinophils to the pulmonary lymphatic compartment(s) was required for the accumulation of myeloid DCs in draining lymph nodes and, in turn, Ag-specific T effector cell production. These effects on DCs and Ag-specific T cells did not require MHC class II expression on eosinophils, suggesting that these granulocytes have an accessory role as opposed to direct T cell stimulation. The data also showed that eosinophils uniquely suppress the DC-mediated production of Th17 and, to smaller degree, Th1 responses. The cumulative effect of these eosinophil-dependent immune mechanisms is to promote the Th2 polarization characteristic of the pulmonary microenvironment after allergen challenge.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Allergens / immunology
  • Animals
  • Asthma / immunology*
  • Cell Separation
  • Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Eosinophils / immunology*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Hypersensitivity / immunology*
  • Immunity, Mucosal / immunology
  • Lung / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Ovalbumin / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Ovalbumin