title: The C-C chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6) is crucial for Th2-driven allergic conjunctivitis.
abstract: Allergic conjunctivitis from an allergen-driven Th2 response is characterized by conjunctival eosinophilic infiltration. Although CCL20-CCR6 axis has been reported to play a proinflammatory role in several murine models of autoimmune diseases including allergic diseases, their underlying mechanism needs to be investigated. We here examined whether CCL20-CCR6 axis could play a role in the development of allergic conjunctival inflammation using murine experimental allergic conjunctivitis (EAC) model induced by ovalbumin (OVA) allergen. Mice were challenged with consecutive 10days of OVA via conjunctival sac after systemic challenge with OVA and cholera toxin in alum. Several indicators for allergy were comparatively evaluated in wild-type and CCR6 KO EAC mice. Wild-type mice challenged with OVA via conjunctival sac following systemic challenge with OVA in alum had severe allergic conjunctivitis. The absence of CCR6 suppressed IgE secretion and allergic conjunctival inflammation. Reduced allergic inflammation was ascribable to reduced cytokine responses from Th-2 type in draining lymph node although Th17, regulatory T cells and dendritic cell subsets are not affected by the absence of CCR6. In addition, neutralization of CCR6 ligand, CCL20 could repress allergic conjunctival inflammation. Our findings suggested that CCR6 might be crucial for optimal development of Th2 immune responses and further allergic conjunctival inflammation in EAC model.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea; Catholic Institute of Visual Science, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address: chungsh@catholic.ac.kr.
authors: So-Hyang
authors: SH
authors: Chung
authors: Laboratory of Microbiology, College of Pharmacy, Ajou University, Suwon, Kyeonggi-do, Korea.
authors: Sun Young
authors: SY
authors: Chang
authors: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Hyun Jung
authors: HJ
authors: Lee
authors: Catholic Institute of Visual Science, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Seong Hyun
authors: SH
authors: Choi
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000534:Alum Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D054418:Chemokine CCL20 / Q000276:immunology; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000276:immunology*; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D054399:Receptors, CCR6 / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000534:Alum Compounds; C498126:CCR6 protein, mouse; D054418:Chemokine CCL20; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D016207:Cytokines; D054399:Receptors, CCR6; C041524:aluminum sulfate; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010047:Ovalbumin; D002772:Cholera Toxin
keywords: Allergic conjunctivitis; CCR6; Eosinophil; Th2-type immune response