IL-33-responsive lineage- CD25+ CD44(hi) lymphoid cells mediate innate type 2 immunity and allergic inflammation in the lungs

J Immunol. 2012 Feb 1;188(3):1503-13. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1102832. Epub 2011 Dec 23.

Abstract

Innate immunity provides the first line of response to invading pathogens and a variety of environmental insults. Recent studies identified novel subsets of innate lymphoid cells that are capable of mediating immune responses in mucosal organs. In this paper, we describe a subset of lymphoid cells that is involved in innate type 2 immunity in the lungs. Airway exposure of naive BALB/c or C57BL/6J mice to IL-33 results in a rapid (<12 h) production of IL-5 and IL-13 and marked airway eosinophilia independently of adaptive immunity. In the lungs of nonsensitized naive mice, IL-33-responsive cells were identified that have a lymphoid morphology, lack lineage markers, highly express CD25, CD44, Thy1.2, ICOS, Sca-1, and IL-7Rα (i.e., Lin(-)CD25(+)CD44(hi) lymphoid cells), and require IL-7Rα for their development. Airway exposure of naive mice to a clinically relevant ubiquitous fungal allergen, Alternaria alternata, increases bronchoalveolar lavage levels of IL-33, followed by IL-5 and IL-13 production and airway eosinophilia without T or B cells. This innate type 2 response to the allergen is nearly abolished in mice deficient in IL-33R (i.e., ST2), and the Lin(-)CD25(+)CD44(hi) lymphoid cells in the lungs are required and sufficient to mediate the response. Thus, a subset of innate immune cells that responds to IL-33 and vigorously produces Th2-type cytokines is present in mouse lungs. These cells may provide a novel mechanism for type 2 immunity in the airways and induction of allergic airway diseases such as asthma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allergens / immunology
  • Alternaria / immunology
  • Animals
  • Cell Lineage
  • Hyaluronan Receptors
  • Immunity, Innate* / immunology
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit
  • Interleukin-33
  • Interleukins / immunology*
  • Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Pneumonia / immunology*
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / immunology

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Hyaluronan Receptors
  • Il33 protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit
  • Interleukin-33
  • Interleukins