There is a plethora of literature demonstrating roles for CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, B cells, and dendritic cells as well as innate immune cells, in the development of allergic airway disease (AAD). Emerging data demonstrates the differential capabilities of these immune cells in terms of being pro- and/or anti-inflammatory at various stages of the disease process. The role of """"""""suppressor"""""""" CD8+ T cells in AAD is controversial;multiple studies suggest both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects in various animal models and in human asthmatics. We have established a unique biphasic model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AAD, which with chronic OVA exposure results in resolution of AAD and the development of local inhalational tolerance (LIT). We have used this model to elucidate cellular involvement in basic pathogenic mechanisms regulating the development of AAD and also to investigate the regulatory mechanisms establishing LIT. We have shown that shifts in CD4+ T cells, B cells, and in particular, OVA specific CD8+ T cells, occur in various local lung compartments but not in systemic compartments at various stages of the model. These shifts correlate with differences in surface marker phenotype and in vivo and in vitro function of the cell types. This model puts us in a unique position to investigate the mechanistic role of each of these cell types and to help clarify the discrepancies between pro- and anti-inflammatory roles. These novel observations and additional preliminary data lead us to hypothesize that pro-inflammatory CD8+ T cells at AAD are replaced (i.e., clonal expansion or differentiation) in lung tissue by regulatory CD8+ T cells, which are dependent on B cells to present Ag via a MHC-I CD94/NKG2A - Qa-1 signaling system. We further hypothesize that this occurs only in lung tissues and that these regulatory CD8+ T cells play a requisite role in the resolution of AAD and the long term maintenance of airway homeostasis. Our overall objective is to determine the functional role of CD8+ T cells in the induction and resolution of AAD and the development of LIT. We anticipate that these studies will clarify homeostatic mechanisms of a complex regulatory pathway involving CD8+ Tregs, Bregs, and CD4+ Tregs. Moreover, we believe that the development of tertiary ectopic lymphoid tissue is essential for the local concentration of regulatory cells thereby promoting their interactions. The following Specific Aims address this hypothesis.
Aim 1. To demonstrate that CD8+ T cells are functionally altered during the progression from AAD to LIT and that this response is localized to cells in respiratory (hilar lymph node, lung tissue, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) as compared to systemic (inguinal lymph node, spleen) tissue compartments: a. surface marker expression and cytokine profiles, b. in vivo functional assessments using adoptive transfers and depletion studies, c. co-localization and trafficking using confocal microscopy and chemokine influence.
Aim 2. Dependence of LIT on CD8+ T cells and the MHC I CD94/NKG2A - Qa-1 signaling system - in vivo and in vitro approaches.

Public Health Relevance

Most animal models of asthma focus on its development and prevention;such studies are relevant but they do not specifically apply to the millions of patients with already established disease. We are investigating a different process, whereby mice are naturally able to recover from asthma, establish tolerance and restore normal airway homeostasis. This murine process may be representative of the beneficial human response to immunotherapy or it may represent how many children are able to outgrow their asthma. The identification of mechanisms underlying this process in mice may have clinical implications for the resolution of asthma in human subjects.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI043573-13
Application #
8462509
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-CVRS-J (04))
Program Officer
Davidson, Wendy F
Project Start
1999-09-30
Project End
2015-05-31
Budget Start
2013-06-01
Budget End
2014-05-31
Support Year
13
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$358,281
Indirect Cost
$125,631
Name
University of Connecticut
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
022254226
City
Farmington
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06030
Adami, Alexander J; Bracken, Sonali J; Guernsey, Linda A et al. (2018) Early-life antibiotics attenuate regulatory T cell generation and increase the severity of murine house dust mite-induced asthma. Pediatr Res 84:426-434
Mathias, C B; Schramm, C M; Guernsey, L A et al. (2017) IL-15-deficient mice develop enhanced allergic responses to airway allergen exposure. Clin Exp Allergy 47:639-655
Andemariam, Biree; Adami, Alexander J; Singh, Anurag et al. (2015) The sickle cell mouse lung: proinflammatory and primed for allergic inflammation. Transl Res 166:254-68
Bracken, Sonali J; Adami, Alexander J; Szczepanek, Steven M et al. (2015) Long-Term Exposure to House Dust Mite Leads to the Suppression of Allergic Airway Disease Despite Persistent Lung Inflammation. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 166:243-58
Mathias, C B; Guernsey, L A; Zammit, D et al. (2014) Pro-inflammatory role of natural killer cells in the development of allergic airway disease. Clin Exp Allergy 44:589-601
Szczepanek, Steven M; Secor Jr, Eric R; Bracken, Sonali J et al. (2013) Transgenic sickle cell disease mice have high mortality and dysregulated immune responses after vaccination. Pediatr Res 74:141-7
McNamara, Jeffrey T; Schramm, Craig M; Singh, Anurag et al. (2012) Phenotypic changes to the endogenous antigen-specific CD8+ T cell response correlates with the development and resolution of allergic airway disease. Am J Pathol 180:1991-2000
Natarajan, P; Singh, A; McNamara, J T et al. (2012) Regulatory B cells from hilar lymph nodes of tolerant mice in a murine model of allergic airway disease are CD5+, express TGF-?, and co-localize with CD4+Foxp3+ T cells. Mucosal Immunol 5:691-701
Secor Jr, Eric R; Shah, Sonali J; Guernsey, Linda A et al. (2012) Bromelain limits airway inflammation in an ovalbumin-induced murine model of established asthma. Altern Ther Health Med 18:9-17
Secor Jr, Eric R; Singh, Anurag; Guernsey, Linda A et al. (2009) Bromelain treatment reduces CD25 expression on activated CD4+ T cells in vitro. Int Immunopharmacol 9:340-6

Showing the most recent 10 out of 18 publications