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Local application of FTY720 to the lung abrogates experimental asthma by altering dendritic cell function
Marco Idzko, … , Henk C. Hoogsteden, Bart N. Lambrecht
Marco Idzko, … , Henk C. Hoogsteden, Bart N. Lambrecht
Published November 1, 2006
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2006;116(11):2935-2944. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI28295.
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Research Article Pulmonology

Local application of FTY720 to the lung abrogates experimental asthma by altering dendritic cell function

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Abstract

Airway DCs play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma, and interfering with their function could constitute a novel form of therapy. The sphingosine 1–phosphate receptor agonist FTY720 is an oral immunosuppressant that retains lymphocytes in lymph nodes and spleen, thus preventing lymphocyte migration to inflammatory sites. The accompanying lymphopenia could be a serious side effect that would preclude the use of FTY720 as an antiasthmatic drug. Here we show in a murine asthma model that local application of FTY720 via inhalation prior to or during ongoing allergen challenge suppresses Th2-dependent eosinophilic airway inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness without causing lymphopenia and T cell retention in the lymph nodes. Effectiveness of local treatment was achieved by inhibition of the migration of lung DCs to the mediastinal lymph nodes, which in turn inhibited the formation of allergen-specific Th2 cells in lymph nodes. Also, FTY720-treated DCs were intrinsically less potent in activating naive and effector Th2 cells due to a reduced capacity to form stable interactions with T cells and thus to form an immunological synapse. These data support the concept that targeting the function of airway DCs with locally acting drugs is a powerful new strategy in the treatment of asthma.

Authors

Marco Idzko, Hamida Hammad, Menno van Nimwegen, Mirjam Kool, Tobias Müller, Thomas Soullié, Monique A.M. Willart, Daniëlle Hijdra, Henk C. Hoogsteden, Bart N. Lambrecht

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Figure 1

Effect of local FTY720 and S1P treatment on asthma features.

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Effect of local FTY720 and S1P treatment on asthma features.
Mice were s...
Mice were sensitized by an i.p. injection of OVA/alum on days 0 and 7. On days 19–21, mice were subjected to OVA aerosol challenges. Thirty minutes before each aerosol challenge, mice received an i.t. injection of vehicle, 0.25 μg FTY720, or S1P 10–6 M. (A and B) BAL fluid was analyzed by flow cytometry. (C and D) Mediastinal LN cell suspensions were restimulated in vitro for 4 days with OVA and assayed for cytokine production using ELISA assay. (E–H) H&E staining of lung sections of mice treated or not with FTY720 and S1P. Data in E and F are from the same experiments as in A and B, respectively. (I) FTY720 inhibits the induction of BHR. Airway obstruction to increasing doses of inhaled methacholine was measured as increase in Penh values (% increase from saline) 24 hours after the last Ag exposure. Labels indicate immunization/treatment/challenge; n = 6–8 mice per group. Data are shown as mean ± SEM. (J) Sensitized BALB/c mice were first subjected to OVA aerosol challenges on days 17–19. Subsequently, mice were subjected to an additional series of 3 daily OVA or PBS aerosol challenges on days 20–22. Thirty minutes before each of these aerosol challenges, mice received an i.t. injection of control vehicle or 0.25 μg FTY720. Twenty-four hours after the last OVA or PBS exposure, BAL was performed. Labels indicate sensitization/first series of aerosol challenges/treatment/second series of aerosol challenges. Data are shown as mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001, representative of 3 independent experiments.

Copyright © 2025 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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