Lung CD4+ resident memory T cells use airway secretory cells to stimulate and regulate onset of allergic airway neutrophilic disease

Abstract

Neutrophilic asthma is a vexing disease, but mechanistic and therapeutic advancements will require better models of allergy-induced airway neutrophilia. Here, we find that periodic ovalbumin (OVA) inhalation in sensitized mice elicits rapid allergic airway inflammation and pathophysiology mimicking neutrophilic asthma. OVA-experienced murine lungs harbor diverse clusters of CD4⁺ resident memory T (T_RM) cells, including unconventional RORγt^negative/low T helper 17 (T_H17) cells. Acute OVA challenge instigates interleukin (IL)-17A secretion from these T_RM cells, driving CXCL5 production from Muc5ac^high airway secretory cells, leading to destructive airway neutrophilia. The T_RM and epithelial cell signals discovered herein are also observed in adult human asthmatic airways. Epithelial antigen presentation regulates this biology by skewing T_RM cells toward T_H2 and T_H1 fates so that T_H1-related interferon (IFN)-γ suppresses IL-17A-driven, CXCL5-mediated airway neutrophilia. Concordantly, in vivo IFN-γ supplementation improves disease outcomes. Thus, using our model of neutrophilic asthma, we identify lung epithelial-CD4⁺ T_RM cell crosstalk as a key rheostat of allergic airway neutrophilia.

Keywords: CD4(+) T cells; CP: Immunology; IFN-γ; MHC class II; T(H)17 cells; allergy; antigen presentation; epithelial cells; mucosal immunity; neutrophilic asthma; tissue-resident memory T(RM) cells.