Local application of FTY720 to the lung abrogates experimental asthma by altering dendritic cell function.
Airway DCs play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma, and interfering with their function could constitute a novel form of therapy. The sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor agonist FTY720 is an oral immunosuppressant that retains lymphocytes in lymph nodes and spleen, thus preventing lymphocyte migration to inflammatory sites. The accompanying lymphopenia could be a serious side effect that would preclude the use of FTY720 as an antiasthmatic drug. Here we show in a murine asthma model that local application of FTY720 via inhalation prior to or during ongoing allergen challenge suppresses Th2-dependent eosinophilic airway inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness without causing lymphopenia and T cell retention in the lymph nodes. Effectiveness of local treatment was achieved by inhibition of the migration of lung DCs to the mediastinal lymph nodes, which in turn inhibited the formation of allergen-specific Th2 cells in lymph nodes. Also, FTY720-treated DCs were intrinsically less potent in activating naive and effector Th2 cells due to a reduced capacity to form stable interactions with T cells and thus to form an immunological synapse. These data support the concept that targeting the function of airway DCs with locally acting drugs is a powerful new strategy in the treatment of asthma.
Idzko
Marco
M
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Hammad
Hamida
H
van Nimwegen
Menno
M
Kool
Mirjam
M
Müller
Tobias
T
Soullié
Thomas
T
Willart
Monique A M
MA
Hijdra
Daniëlle
D
Hoogsteden
Henk C
HC
Lambrecht
Bart N
BN
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000187:drug effects; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008246:Lysophospholipids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D011409:Propylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D049349:Receptors, Lysosphingolipid / Q000235:genetics; D013110:Sphingosine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000485:Allergens; D008246:Lysophospholipids; D011409:Propylene Glycols; D049349:Receptors, Lysosphingolipid; C060506:sphingosine 1-phosphate; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride; D013110:Sphingosine