title: T1/ST2 expression on Th2 cells negatively regulates allergic pulmonary inflammation.
abstract: The transmembrane form of T1/ST2 (ST2) is a specific marker on murine Th2 cells that have been generated in vitro, or isolated from sites of allergic type 2 inflammation. Despite the association of ST2 with Th2 cells, to date no obligate role for ST2 in type 2 responses in vivo has been described. We have specifically addressed the role of ST2 on T cells by generation of ST2(-/-) mice crossed with ovalbumin (OVA) T cell receptor-transgenic mice. OVA-specific ST2(-/-) cells had normal cytokine responses to T cell activation after in vitro Th2 differentiation, but OVA stimulation of IL-5 was increased. Transfer of OVA-specific ST2(-/-) Th2 cells into BALB/c mice caused exacerbated pulmonary inflammation with occluded airways, elevated airway hyper-responsiveness and increased susceptibility to methacholine challenge that was associated with mortalities of recipient mice. The increased pulmonary inflammation in OVA-specific ST2(-/-) Th2 cell recipients was associated with selective differences in pulmonary levels of Th2 cytokines compared with OVA-specific ST2(+) Th2 cell recipients. Recipients of OVA-specific ST2(-/-) Th2 cells had a significant increase in eosinophils and a significant reduction in F4/80(hi) macrophages in the lungs. This is the first demonstration of a role for ST2 expression on Th2 cells down-regulating pulmonary inflammation. These data have major implications for the targeting of ST2 as a therapy for allergic airway disorders.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Niamh E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Mangan
authors.forename: Ayan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dasvarma
authors.forename: Andrew N J
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: Padraic G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Fallon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D000072179:Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000276:immunology*; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C486189:Il1rl1 protein, mouse; D000072179:Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D010047:Ovalbumin