Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor-driven respiratory mucosal sensitization induces Th2 differentiation and function independently of interleukin-4

Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2002 Oct;27(4):428-35. doi: 10.1165/rcmb.4824.

Abstract

The development of T helper (Th)2 responses is a key step in the pathogenesis of asthma. Interleukin (IL)-4 is thought to be important, although not strictly necessary, for Th2 differentiation, although triggers of IL-4-independent Th2 polarization have not been identified. We examined whether IL-4 is necessary for Th2-polarized responses during granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-driven respiratory mucosal sensitization. Balb/c wild type (WT) or IL-4 knockout (4KO) mice were exposed to aerosolized ovalbumin (OVA) in the context of airway GM-CSF expression. We examined the extent of Th2 polarization using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction on lymph node mRNA, flow cytometric analysis of lung Th cells, and measurement of cells, cytokines, and immunoglobulins in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and serum. GATA-3 and CCR3, -4, and -8 were expressed in the lymph nodes of WT and 4KO mice at similar levels, as were IL-5 and IL-13 levels in the BAL, T1/ST2 on lung Th cells, and BAL eosinophils after recall challenge. With the exception of immunoglobulin production, expression of GATA-3, CCR-3, -4, -8, IL-5, and T1/ST2, and the generation of blood eosinophilia, were intact in mice doubly deficient in both IL-4 and IL-13. We conclude that IL-4 is not required for the generation of Th2-polarized responses in the presence of GM-CSF.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Eosinophils / metabolism
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / metabolism*
  • Immunoglobulins / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-13 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-4 / genetics
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-5 / metabolism
  • Lung / cytology
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lymph Nodes / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mucous Membrane / pathology*
  • RNA / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Receptors, CCR3
  • Receptors, CCR4
  • Receptors, CCR8
  • Receptors, Chemokine / metabolism
  • Respiratory Mucosa / pathology
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism*
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism

Substances

  • CCR3 protein, human
  • CCR4 protein, human
  • CCR8 protein, human
  • Ccr3 protein, mouse
  • Ccr4 protein, mouse
  • Cytokines
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor
  • Gata3 protein, mouse
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Interleukin-13
  • Interleukin-5
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, CCR3
  • Receptors, CCR4
  • Receptors, CCR8
  • Receptors, Chemokine
  • Trans-Activators
  • Interleukin-4
  • RNA
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor