Neuroimmune semaphorin 4A downregulates the severity of allergic response

Mucosal Immunol. 2012 Jul;5(4):409-19. doi: 10.1038/mi.2012.18. Epub 2012 Apr 4.

Abstract

To define the role of semaphorin 4A (Sema4A) in allergic response, we employed Sema4A⁻/⁻ and wild-type (WT) mice in the experimental model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic airway inflammation. We observed a selective increase in eosinophilic airway infiltration accompanied by bronchial epithelial cell hyperplasia in allergen-treated Sema4A⁻/⁻ mice relative to WT mice. This enhanced inflammatory response was associated with a selective increase in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) interleukin 13 (IL-13) content, augmented airway hyperreactivity, and lower regulatory T cell (Treg) numbers. In vivo allergen-primed Sema4A⁻/⁻ CD4+ T cells were more effective in transferring T helper type 2 (Th2) response to naive mice as compared with WT CD4+ T cells. T-cell proliferation and IL-13 productions in OVA₃₂₃₋₃₃₉-restimulated Sema4A⁻/⁻ cell cultures were upregulated. Generated bone marrow chimeras showed an equal importance of both lung-resident cell and inflammatory cell Sema4A expression in optimal disease regulation. These data provide a new insight into Sema4A biology and define Sema4A as an important regulator of Th2-driven lung pathophysiology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Asthma / genetics
  • Asthma / immunology
  • Bone Marrow / immunology
  • Bone Marrow / metabolism
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Ovalbumin / chemistry
  • Ovalbumin / immunology
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / genetics*
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / immunology*
  • Semaphorins / genetics*
  • Semaphorins / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism

Substances

  • Sema4A protein, mouse
  • Semaphorins
  • Ovalbumin