Strain-specific requirement for eosinophils in the recruitment of T cells to the lung during the development of allergic asthma

• DOI: 10.1084/jem.20071836
• Publication Date: 2008-05-20T17:34:02Z
• Authors: Elizabeth Rose Walsh; Nisebita Sahu; Jennifer Kearley; Ebony Benjamin; Boo Hyon Kang; Alison Humbles; Avery August
• Keywords: Inflammation; Mice, Knockout; 0301 basic medicine; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Ovalbumin; Interleukins; T-Lymphocytes; Asthma; 3. Good health; Eosinophils; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Species Specificity; Hypersensitivity; Brief Definitive Reports; Animals; GATA1 Transcription Factor; Bronchial Hyperreactivity; Lung

Eosinophils have been implicated as playing a major role in allergic airway responses. However, the importance of these cells to the development of this disease has remained ambiguous despite many studies, partly because of lack of appropriate model systems. In this study, using transgenic murine models, we more clearly delineate a role for eosinophils in asthma. We report that, in contrast to results obtained on a BALB/c background, eosinophil-deficient C57BL/6 ΔdblGATA mice (eosinophil-null mice via the ΔDblGATA1 mutation) have reduced airway hyperresponsiveness, and cytokine production of interleukin (IL)-4, -5, and -13 in ovalbumin-induced allergic airway inflammation. This was caused by reduced T cell recruitment into the lung, as these mouse lungs had reduced expression of CCL7/MCP-3, CC11/eotaxin-1, and CCL24/eotaxin-2. Transferring eosinophils into these eosinophil-deficient mice and, more importantly, delivery of CCL11/eotaxin-1 into the lung during the development of this disease rescued lung T cell infiltration and airway inflammation when delivered together with allergen. These studies indicate that on the C57BL/6 background, eosinophils are integral to the development of airway allergic responses by modulating chemokine and/or cytokine production in the lung, leading to T cell recruitment.