An IL-9-pulmonary macrophage axis defines the allergic lung inflammatory environment

Sci Immunol. 2022 Feb 18;7(68):eabi9768. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abi9768. Epub 2022 Feb 18.

Abstract

Despite IL-9 functioning as a pleiotropic cytokine in mucosal environments, the IL-9-responsive cell repertoire is still not well defined. Here, we found that IL-9 mediates proallergic activities in the lungs by targeting lung macrophages. IL-9 inhibits alveolar macrophage expansion and promotes recruitment of monocytes that develop into CD11c+ and CD11c- interstitial macrophage populations. Interstitial macrophages were required for IL-9-dependent allergic responses. Mechanistically, IL-9 affected the function of lung macrophages by inducing Arg1 activity. Compared with Arg1-deficient lung macrophages, Arg1-expressing macrophages expressed greater amounts of CCL5. Adoptive transfer of Arg1+ lung macrophages but not Arg1- lung macrophages promoted allergic inflammation that Il9r-/- mice were protected against. In parallel, the elevated expression of IL-9, IL-9R, Arg1, and CCL5 was correlated with disease in patients with asthma. Thus, our study uncovers an IL-9/macrophage/Arg1 axis as a potential therapeutic target for allergic airway inflammation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allergens / immunology
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Dermatophagoides / immunology
  • Arginase / genetics
  • Arginase / immunology
  • Asthma / immunology*
  • Chemokine CCL5 / immunology
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Interleukin-9 / immunology*
  • Macrophages, Alveolar / immunology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Receptors, Interleukin-9 / genetics
  • Receptors, Interleukin-9 / immunology

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Antigens, Dermatophagoides
  • Chemokine CCL5
  • Interleukin-9
  • Receptors, Interleukin-9
  • Arginase