A regulatory role for the C5a anaphylatoxin in type 2 immunity in asthma.
Complement component 5 (C5) has been described as either promoting or protecting against airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in experimental allergic asthma, suggesting pleomorphic effects of C5. Here we report that local pharmacological targeting of the C5a receptor (C5aR) prior to initial allergen sensitization in murine models of inhalation tolerance or allergic asthma resulted in either induction or marked enhancement of Th2-polarized immune responses, airway inflammation, and AHR. Importantly, C5aR-deficient mice exhibited a similar, increased allergic phenotype. Pulmonary allergen exposure in C5aR-targeted mice resulted in increased sensitization and accumulation of CD4+ CD69+ T cells associated with a marked increase in pulmonary myeloid, but not plasmacytoid, DC numbers. Pulmonary DCs from C5aR-targeted mice produced large amounts of CC chemokine ligand 17 (CCL17) and CCL22 ex vivo, suggesting a negative impact of C5aR signaling on pulmonary homing of Th2 cells. In contrast, C5aR targeting in sensitized mice led to suppressed airway inflammation and AHR but was still associated with enhanced production of Th2 effector cytokines. These data suggest a dual role for C5a in allergic asthma, i.e., protection from the development of maladaptive type 2 immune responses during allergen sensitization at the DC/T cell interface but enhancement of airway inflammation and AHR in an established inflammatory environment.
Köhl
Jörg
J
Division of Molecular Immunology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA. joerg.koehl@chmcc.org
Baelder
Ralf
R
Lewkowich
Ian P
IP
Pandey
Manoj K
MK
Hawlisch
Heiko
H
Wang
Lihua
L
Best
Jennifer
J
Herman
Nancy S
NS
Sproles
Alyssa A
AA
Zwirner
Jörg
J
Whitsett
Jeffrey A
JA
Gerard
Craig
C
Sfyroera
Georgia
G
Lambris
John D
JD
Wills-Karp
Marsha
M
D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D044087:Receptor, Anaphylatoxin C5a / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D000485:Allergens; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D044087:Receptor, Anaphylatoxin C5a; D010047:Ovalbumin