title: Activin A and TGF-β promote T(H)9 cell-mediated pulmonary allergic pathology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  IL-9-secreting (T(H)9) T cells are thought to represent a distinct T-cell subset. However, evidence for their functionality in disease is uncertain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To define a functional phenotype for T(H)9-driven pathology in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used fluorescence-activated cell sorting to identify circulating T(H)9 cells in atopic and nonatopic subjects. In mice we utilized a model of allergic airways disease induced by house dust mite to determine T(H)9 cell function in vivo and the role of activin A in T(H)9 generation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Allergic patients have elevated T(H)9 cell numbers in comparison to nonatopic donors, which correlates with elevated IgE levels. In a murine model, allergen challenge with house dust mite leads to rapid T(H)9 differentiation and proliferation, with much faster kinetics than for T(H)2 cell differentiation, resulting in the specific recruitment and activation of mast cells. The TGF-β superfamily member activin A replicates the function of TGF-β1 in driving the in vitro generation of T(H)9 cells. Importantly, the in vivo inhibition of T(H)9 differentiation induced by allergen was achieved only when activin A and TGF-β were blocked in conjunction but not alone, resulting in reduced airway hyperreactivity and collagen deposition. Conversely, adoptive transfer of T(H)9 cells results in enhanced pathology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data identify a distinct functional role for T(H)9 cells and outline a novel pathway for their generation in vitro and in vivo. Functionally, T(H)9 cells promote allergic responses resulting in enhanced pathology mediated by the specific recruitment and activation of mast cells in the lungs.
authors.forename: Carla P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Lisa G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Causton
authors.forename: Gaynor A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Clare M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lloyd
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010641:Phenotype; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C422405:activin A; D028341:Activins