Antagonism of microRNA-126 suppresses the effector function of TH2 cells and the development of allergic airways disease

J Mattes, A Collison, M Plank… - Proceedings of the …, 2009 - National Acad Sciences
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2009National Acad Sciences
Allergic asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lung characterized by abnormal T helper-2
(TH2) lymphocyte responses to inhaled antigens. The molecular mechanisms leading to the
generation of TH2 responses remain unclear, although toll-like receptors (TLRs) present on
innate immune cells play a pivotal role in sensing molecular patterns and in programming
adaptive T cell responses. Here we show that in vivo activation of TLR4 by house dust mite
antigens leads to the induction of allergic disease, a process that is associated with …
Allergic asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lung characterized by abnormal T helper-2 (TH2) lymphocyte responses to inhaled antigens. The molecular mechanisms leading to the generation of TH2 responses remain unclear, although toll-like receptors (TLRs) present on innate immune cells play a pivotal role in sensing molecular patterns and in programming adaptive T cell responses. Here we show that in vivo activation of TLR4 by house dust mite antigens leads to the induction of allergic disease, a process that is associated with expression of a unique subset of small, noncoding microRNAs. Selective blockade of microRNA (miR)-126 suppressed the asthmatic phenotype, resulting in diminished TH2 responses, inflammation, airways hyperresponsiveness, eosinophil recruitment, and mucus hypersecretion. miR-126 blockade resulted in augmented expression of POU domain class 2 associating factor 1, which activates the transcription factor PU.1 that alters TH2 cell function via negative regulation of GATA3 expression. In summary, this study presents a functional connection between miRNA expression and asthma pathogenesis, and our data suggest that targeting miRNA in the airways may lead to anti-inflammatory treatments for allergic asthma.
National Acad Sciences