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Published ahead of print on May 15, 2009
Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. 2009, doi:10.1165/rcmb.2008-0397OC
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Submitted on October 16, 2008
Accepted on May 14, 2009

Flt3-L Increases CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ICOS+ Cells in the Lung of Cockroach-sensitized and Challenged Mice

Halvor S McGee1, Jehad H Edwan2, and Devendra K. Agrawal3*

1 Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska, United States, 2 Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska, United States, 3 Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska, United States; Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska, United States; Internal Medicine, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska, United States

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: dkagr{at}creighton.edu.

We previously reported in ovalbumin-induced model of allergic asthma that Flt3-L reversed airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and airway inflammation, and increased the number of regulatory CD11c-highCD8{alpha}-highCD11b-low dendritic cells in the lung. In this study, we investigated the effect of Flt3-L in a clinically relevant aeroallergen-induced asthma on the phenotypic expression of lung T-cells. Balb/c mice were sensitized and challenged with cockroach (CRA) and AHR to methacholine was established. These mice received three i.p. injections of anti CD25 antibody (PC61) (250 µg) and Flt3-L (3µg) daily for ten days. Cytokines and immunoglobulins levels in the serum were measured and differential BALF cell counts were examined. Flt3-L reversed AHR to methacholine to the control level. Flt3-L significantly decreased levels of BALF IL-5, IFN-{gamma}, eosinophilia and substantially increased IL-10 and the number of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+IL-10+ T-cells in the lung. Administration of PC61 antibody blocked the effect of Flt3-L and substantially increased AHR, eosinophilia, BALF IL-5 and IFN-{gamma} levels and decreased BALF IL-10 levels and the number of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+IL-10+ T-cells. Flt3-L significantly decreased CD62-L but, increased ICOS expression and Foxp3 mRNA expression in the CD4+CD25+ T-cells isolated from lungs of Flt3-L treated CRA-sensitized mice compared to without Flt3-L treatment and PBS control group. Flt3-L significantly inhibited the effect of CRA sensitization and challenge to increase GATA3 expression in lung CD4+CD25+ T-cells. Collectively, these data suggest that the therapeutic effect of Flt3-L is mediated by increased density of naturally occurring CD4+CD25+Foxp3+IL-10+ICOS+ T-regulatory cells in the lung. Flt3-L could be a therapeutic strategy for the management and prevention of allergic asthma.


Key words: Immunomdulation • Flt3-ligand • T-regulatory cells • CD62L • Foxp3







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