CD11b+ myeloid cells are the key mediators of Th2 cell homing into the airway in allergic inflammation

BD Medoff, E Seung, S Hong, SY Thomas… - The Journal of …, 2009 - journals.aai.org
BD Medoff, E Seung, S Hong, SY Thomas, BP Sandall, JS Duffield, DA Kuperman, DJ Erle
The Journal of Immunology, 2009journals.aai.org
STAT6-mediated chemokine production in the lung is required for Th2 lymphocyte and
eosinophil homing into the airways in allergic pulmonary inflammation, and thus is a
potential therapeutic target in asthma. However, the critical cellular source of STAT6-
mediated chemokine production has not been defined. In this study, we demonstrate that
STAT6 in bone marrow-derived myeloid cells was sufficient for the production of CCL17,
CCL22, CCL11, and CCL24 and for Th2 lymphocyte and eosinophil recruitment into the …
Abstract
STAT6-mediated chemokine production in the lung is required for Th2 lymphocyte and eosinophil homing into the airways in allergic pulmonary inflammation, and thus is a potential therapeutic target in asthma. However, the critical cellular source of STAT6-mediated chemokine production has not been defined. In this study, we demonstrate that STAT6 in bone marrow-derived myeloid cells was sufficient for the production of CCL17, CCL22, CCL11, and CCL24 and for Th2 lymphocyte and eosinophil recruitment into the allergic airway. In contrast, STAT6 in airway-lining cells did not mediate chemokine production or support cellular recruitment. Selective depletion of CD11b+ myeloid cells in the lung identified these cells as the critical cellular source for the chemokines CCL17 and CCL22. These data reveal that CD11b+ myeloid cells in the lung help orchestrate the adaptive immune response in asthma, in part, through the production of STAT6-inducible chemokines and the recruitment of Th2 lymphocytes into the airway.
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