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Th2 responses induced by epicutaneous or inhalational protein exposure are differentially dependent on IL-4
Christina A. Herrick, … , Robert E. Tigelaar, Kim Bottomly
Christina A. Herrick, … , Robert E. Tigelaar, Kim Bottomly
Published March 15, 2000
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2000;105(6):765-775. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI8624.
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Th2 responses induced by epicutaneous or inhalational protein exposure are differentially dependent on IL-4

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Abstract

Atopic individuals are predisposed to mounting vigorous Th2-type immune responses to environmental allergens. To determine the factors responsible, animal models that closely mimic natural modes of allergen exposure should prove most informative. Therefore, we investigated the role of IL-4, a known Th2-promoting cytokine, in generation of Th2 responses after exposure of either the skin or airway to soluble protein. Compared with wild-type (WT) mice, IL-4–deficient (IL-4–/–) mice showed markedly impaired Th2 activation after primary exposure to inhaled ovalbumin (OVA), with decreased OVA-specific IgG1 and IgE, and significantly fewer eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid after airway challenge. In contrast, IL-4–/– mice initially exposed to epicutaneous (e.c.) OVA mounted Th2 responses equivalent to responses in WT mice, with high numbers of eosinophils in BAL fluid. Because Th2 responses were not induced by e.c. OVA exposure in Stat6–/– mice (mice lacking signal transducer and activator of transcription 6), the role of IL-13 was tested. In vivo depletion of IL-13 prevented Th2 responses induced by e.c. OVA exposure in IL-4–/– mice. These data demonstrate a marked difference in the IL-4 dependence of Th2 responses generated at two anatomic sites of natural allergen encounter and identify the skin as a particularly potent site for Th2 sensitization.

Authors

Christina A. Herrick, Heather MacLeod, Earl Glusac, Robert E. Tigelaar, Kim Bottomly

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Figure 2

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Th2 responses after i.n. OVA exposure. Mice received an initial course o...
Th2 responses after i.n. OVA exposure. Mice received an initial course of i.n. OVA (100 μg on day 0–2), and then a second challenge course (25 μg on days 14, 15, 18, and 19). (a) Serum was obtained for measurement of antibodies by ELISA on days 13 and 21. Data points represent values for individual mice with the mean indicated, and are from 2 experiments. The open triangle at bottom right represents the value for pooled preimmune serum. (b) Mice initially exposed to either i.n. OVA (100 μg) in PBS or PBS alone on days 0–2 were challenged with i.n. OVA (25 μg) on days 14, 15, 18, and 19. On day 21, mice were sacrificed, BAL was performed, and total cell yield and differential counts in cytospin preparations from individual mice were determined. Both the total number of cells recovered by BAL and the number of each cell type are shown. Data are reported as mean ± SEM of 3 (PBS) or 5 (OVA) mice per group. One representative experiment of 3 experiments with similar results is shown. Statistical significance between PBS-exposed and OVA-exposed groups was determined by unpaired Student’s t test. (c) After BAL on day 21, lungs from 5–10 mice initially exposed to i.n. OVA were harvested and pooled. Inflammatory cells were isolated by enzymatic digestion. Cells were restimulated in vitro by culture with OVA (100 μg/mL) for 48 hours, and cytokine levels in supernatants were measured by ELISA. Data are reported as mean ± SEM from 2 experiments. Cytokine levels in cultures without OVA: IFN-γ, n.d.; IL-4, n.d.; IL-5, 135 pg/mL; IL-13, n.d. No cytokines were detected in cultures of lung cells from naive mice with or without OVA treatment.

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ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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