Lymphotoxin is required for maintaining physiological levels of serum IgE that minimizes Th1-mediated airway inflammation

Although elevated levels of IgE in asthmatic patients are strongly associated with lung infiltration by activated T helper (Th) 2 cells, the physiological role of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the airway remains largely undefined. Lymphotoxin-deficient alpha (LTalpha-/-) mice exhibit increased airway in...

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Published inThe Journal of experimental medicine Vol. 198; no. 11; pp. 1643 - 1652
Main Authors Kang, Hyung-Sik, Blink, Sarah E, Chin, Robert K, Lee, Youjin, Kim, Oliver, Weinstock, Joel, Waldschmidt, Thomas, Conrad, Daniel, Chen, Bohao, Solway, Julian, Sperling, Anne I, Fu, Yang-Xin
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States The Rockefeller University Press 01.12.2003
Subjects
Animals
Bronchial Hyperreactivity - immunology
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Flow Cytometry
Immunoglobulin E - blood
Immunoglobulin E - deficiency
Lymphotoxin-alpha - genetics
Lymphotoxin-alpha - physiology
Mice
Mice, Knockout
Respiratory Mechanics
Th1 Cells - immunology
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Summary:Although elevated levels of IgE in asthmatic patients are strongly associated with lung infiltration by activated T helper (Th) 2 cells, the physiological role of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the airway remains largely undefined. Lymphotoxin-deficient alpha (LTalpha-/-) mice exhibit increased airway inflammation, paradoxically accompanied by diminished levels of IgE and reduced airway hyperresponsiveness in response to both environmental and induced antigen challenge. The severe lung inflammation in LTalpha-/- mice is Th1 in nature and can be alleviated by IgE reconstitution. Conversely, depletion of IgE in wild-type mice recapitulates the lung pathologies of LTalpha-/- mice. Therefore, this work has revealed that lymphotoxin is essential for IgE production, and a physiological role of IgE in the airway may consist of maintaining the balance of Th1 and Th2 responses to prevent aberrant inflammation.
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Address correspondence to Yang-Xin Fu, Dept. of Pathology, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland, Rm. J541, MC3083, Chicago, IL 60637. Phone: (773) 702-0929; Fax: (773) 834-8940; email: yfu@midway.uchicago.edu
Abbreviations used in this paper: BAL, bronchoalveolar lavage; BHR, bronchial hyperresponsiveness; i.t., intratracheally; LT, lymphotoxin; SEA, Schistosoma mansoni egg antigen.
ISSN:0022-1007
1540-9538
DOI:10.1084/jem.20021784