Little is known about the antecedent events within the human infant lung that predispose the development of pathologic immune responses to inhaled allergens later in life. We do not know if the structural cells of the infant lung can significantly influence the phenotype of an immune response to an inhaled environmental challenge. Of particular significance is the epithelial cell of the conducting airways, which is architecturally and functionally poised to serve as a liaison to the adaptive immune system. The primary objective of this proposal is to determine how the conducting airway epithelium of the infant lung can influence the adaptive immune response to inhaled allergens. Our overall hypothesis is that epithelial cells of the infant lung play a central role in the initiation of the asthma phenotype, via constitutive CCL20 chemokine expression to promote airways recruitment of chemokine receptor CCR6+ T lymphocytes. This hypothesis is based on preliminary data obtained from airway epithelial cell cultures, demonstrating age-dependent expression and inhibitory microRNA regulation of CCL20 via IL-17A. We have also identified a population of IL-17A-producing CCR6+ T lymphocytes in airways of allergen-exposed infant monkeys. Given that human dendritic cells are deficient in IL-12 (a potent inhibitor of IL-17A) during infancy, we further hypothesize that development of the asthma phenotype is initially mediated not by an imbalance of Th2/Th1 cytokines, but rather an imbalance of IL-17A/IL-12. To test these hypotheses, we will 1) investigate the developmental regulation of CCL20 expression in infant airway epithelium, 2) characterize chemokine receptor CCR6+ lymphocyte populations in the infant monkey lung following allergen exposure, and 3) determine the impact of IL-17/IL-12 imbalance on allergen exposed infant monkeys. The experiments proposed within this application will contribute to our overall understanding of how the epithelium of the maturing postnatal lung can direct the development of a pathologic immune response to inhaled allergens. Our findings regarding the contribution of IL-17A in development of asthma in the non-human primate can be directly extrapolated towards identification of candidate drugs for the prevention of childhood asthma.

Public Health Relevance

The experiments proposed within this application will contribute to our overall understanding of how the epithelium of the maturing postnatal lung can direct the development of a pathologic immune response to inhaled allergens. Our findings regarding the contribution of IL-17A in the development of the asthma phenotype in non-human primates can be directly extrapolated towards identification of candidate drugs for the prevention of childhood asthma.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01HL097087-01
Application #
7714083
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1-CSR-H (M2))
Program Officer
Noel, Patricia
Project Start
2009-09-01
Project End
2013-07-31
Budget Start
2009-09-01
Budget End
2010-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$383,250
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Davis
Department
Veterinary Sciences
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
047120084
City
Davis
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
95618
Tsai, Hsing-Chuan; Velichko, Sharlene; Lee, Shanshan et al. (2018) Cholera toxin enhances interleukin-17A production in both CD4+ and CD8+ cells via a cAMP/protein kinase A-mediated interleukin-17A promoter activation. Immunology 154:500-509
Crowley, Candace M; Fontaine, Justin H; Gerriets, Joan E et al. (2017) Early life allergen and air pollutant exposures alter longitudinal blood immune profiles in infant rhesus monkeys. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 328:60-69
Tsai, Hsing-Chuan; Wu, Reen (2015) Mechanisms of Cholera Toxin in the Modulation of TH17 Responses. Crit Rev Immunol 35:135-52
Dugger, Daniel T; Gerriets, Joan E; Miller, Lisa A (2015) Attenuated Airway Epithelial Cell Interleukin-22R1 Expression in the Infant Nonhuman Primate Lung. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 53:761-8
Clay, Candice C; Maniar-Hew, Kinjal; Gerriets, Joan E et al. (2014) Early life ozone exposure results in dysregulated innate immune function and altered microRNA expression in airway epithelium. PLoS One 9:e90401
Clay, Candice C; Reader, J Rachel; Gerriets, Joan E et al. (2014) Enhanced viral replication and modulated innate immune responses in infant airway epithelium following H1N1 infection. J Virol 88:7412-25
Maniar-Hew, Kinjal; Clay, Candice C; Postlethwait, Edward M et al. (2013) Innate immune response to LPS in airway epithelium is dependent on chronological age and antecedent exposures. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 49:710-20
Tsai, Hsing-Chuan; Velichko, Sharlene; Hung, Li-Yin et al. (2013) IL-17A and Th17 cells in lung inflammation: an update on the role of Th17 cell differentiation and IL-17R signaling in host defense against infection. Clin Dev Immunol 2013:267971
Tsai, Hsing-Chuan; Wu, Reen (2013) Cholera toxin directly enhances IL-17A production from human CD4+ T cells. J Immunol 191:4095-102
Avdalovic, Mark V; Tyler, Nancy K; Putney, Lei et al. (2012) Ozone exposure during the early postnatal period alters the timing and pattern of alveolar growth and development in nonhuman primates. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 295:1707-16

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