CXCR2 is necessary for the development and persistence of chronic fungal asthma in mice

J Immunol. 2002 Feb 1;168(3):1447-56. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.168.3.1447.

Abstract

The role of CXCR during allergic airway and asthmatic diseases is yet to be fully characterized. Therefore, the present study addressed the role of CXCR2 during Aspergillus fumigatus-induced asthma. Mice deficient in CXCR2 (CXCR2-/-) and wild-type counterparts (CXCR2+/+) were sensitized to A. fumigatus Ags and challenged with A. fumigatus conidia, and the resulting allergic airway disease was monitored for up to 37 days. At days 3 and 7 after conidia, CXCR2-/- mice exhibited significantly greater methacholine-induced airway hyperreactivity than did CXCR2+/+ mice. In contrast, CXCR2-deficient mice exhibited significantly less airway hyperresponsiveness than the wild-type control groups at days 14 and 37 after conidia. At all times after conidia, whole lung levels of IL-4, IL-5, and eotaxin/CC chemokine ligand 11 were significantly lower in CXCR2-/- mice than in the wild-type controls. Eosinophil and T cell, but not neutrophil, recruitment into the airways of A. fumigatus-sensitized CXCR2-/- mice was significantly impaired compared with wild-type controls at all times after the conidia challenge. Whole lung levels of IFN-gamma, inflammatory protein-10/CXC ligand (CXCL) 10, and monokine induced by IFN-gamma (MIG)/CXCL9 were significantly increased in CXCR2-/- mice compared with CXCR2+/+ mice at various times after conidia. Interestingly, at day 3 after conidia, neutrophil recruitment and airway hyperresponsiveness in CXCR2-/- mice was mediated by inflammatory protein-10/CXCL10 and, to a lesser degree, MIG/CXCL9. Taken together, these data suggest that CXCR2 contributes to the persistence of asthmatic disease due to A. fumigatus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / immunology*
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / pathogenicity
  • Asthma / genetics
  • Asthma / immunology*
  • Asthma / microbiology
  • Asthma / pathology
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / chemically induced
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / genetics
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / immunology
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / microbiology
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / chemistry
  • Cell Movement / immunology
  • Chemokine CCL11
  • Chemokine CCL4
  • Chemokine CCL5 / metabolism
  • Chemokine CXCL10
  • Chemokines, CC / metabolism
  • Chemokines, CXC / biosynthesis
  • Chemokines, CXC / physiology
  • Chronic Disease
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Eosinophils / pathology
  • Female
  • Immunity, Innate / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin E / biosynthesis
  • Immunoglobulin E / blood
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-12 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-5 / metabolism
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lung / pathology
  • Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins / physiology
  • Methacholine Chloride / administration & dosage
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neutrophils / pathology
  • Peroxidase / metabolism
  • Receptors, Interleukin-8B / deficiency
  • Receptors, Interleukin-8B / genetics
  • Receptors, Interleukin-8B / physiology*
  • Spores, Fungal / immunology
  • Spores, Fungal / pathogenicity
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology

Substances

  • Ccl11 protein, mouse
  • Chemokine CCL11
  • Chemokine CCL4
  • Chemokine CCL5
  • Chemokine CXCL10
  • Chemokines, CC
  • Chemokines, CXC
  • Interleukin-5
  • Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins
  • Receptors, Interleukin-8B
  • Methacholine Chloride
  • Interleukin-12
  • Interleukin-4
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Peroxidase