T helper 9 (Th9) cells contribute to lung inflammation and allergy as sources of interleukin-9 (IL-9). However, the mechanisms by which IL-9/Th9 mediate immunopathology in the lung are unknown. Here we report an IL-9-driven positive feedback loop that reinforces allergic inflammation. We show that IL-9 increases IL-2 production by mast cells, which leads to expansion of CD25+ type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) and subsequent activation of Th9 cells. Blocking IL-9 or inhibiting CD117 (c-Kit) signalling counteracts the pathogenic effect of the described IL-9-mast cell-IL-2 signalling axis. Overproduction of IL-9 is observed in expectorates from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, and a sex-specific variant of IL-9 is predictive of allergic reactions in female patients. Our results suggest that blocking IL-9 may be a therapeutic strategy to ameliorate inflammation associated with microbial colonization in the lung, and offers a plausible explanation for gender differences in clinical outcomes of patients with CF.

A mast cell-ILC2-Th9 pathway promotes lung inflammation in cystic fibrosis

MORETTI, SILVIA;RENGA, GIORGIA;Oikonomou, Vasilis;GALOSI, CLAUDIA;PARIANO, MARILENA;IANNITTI, ROSSANA GIULIETTA;BORGHI, MONICA;PUCCETTI, MATTEO;DE ZUANI, MARCO;PAOLICELLI, GIUSEPPE;ZELANTE, TERESA;BERESHCHENKO, OXANA;SPORTOLETTI, PAOLO;RUSSO, Maria Chiara;TALESA, Vincenzo Nicola;NAPOLIONI, VALERIO;ROMANI, Luigina
2017

Abstract

T helper 9 (Th9) cells contribute to lung inflammation and allergy as sources of interleukin-9 (IL-9). However, the mechanisms by which IL-9/Th9 mediate immunopathology in the lung are unknown. Here we report an IL-9-driven positive feedback loop that reinforces allergic inflammation. We show that IL-9 increases IL-2 production by mast cells, which leads to expansion of CD25+ type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) and subsequent activation of Th9 cells. Blocking IL-9 or inhibiting CD117 (c-Kit) signalling counteracts the pathogenic effect of the described IL-9-mast cell-IL-2 signalling axis. Overproduction of IL-9 is observed in expectorates from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, and a sex-specific variant of IL-9 is predictive of allergic reactions in female patients. Our results suggest that blocking IL-9 may be a therapeutic strategy to ameliorate inflammation associated with microbial colonization in the lung, and offers a plausible explanation for gender differences in clinical outcomes of patients with CF.
2017
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
ncomms14017.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia di allegato: PDF-editoriale
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 3.5 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
3.5 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11391/1407347
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 63
  • Scopus 100
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 110
social impact