Lymphotoxin is required for maintaining physiological levels of serum IgE that minimizes Th1-mediated airway inflammation

Although elevated levels of IgE in asthmatic patients are strongly associated with lung infiltration by activated T helper (Th) 2 cells, the physiological role of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the airway remains largely undefined. Lymphotoxin-deficient alpha (LTalpha-/-) mice exhibit increased airway in...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	The Journal of experimental medicine Vol. 198; no. 11; pp. 1643 - 1652
Main Authors:	Kang, Hyung-Sik, Blink, Sarah E, Chin, Robert K, Lee, Youjin, Kim, Oliver, Weinstock, Joel, Waldschmidt, Thomas, Conrad, Daniel, Chen, Bohao, Solway, Julian, Sperling, Anne I, Fu, Yang-Xin
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States The Rockefeller University Press 01-12-2003
Subjects:	Animals Bronchial Hyperreactivity - immunology Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Flow Cytometry Immunoglobulin E - blood Immunoglobulin E - deficiency Lymphotoxin-alpha - genetics Lymphotoxin-alpha - physiology Mice Mice, Knockout Respiratory Mechanics Th1 Cells - immunology
Online Access:	Get full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	Although elevated levels of IgE in asthmatic patients are strongly associated with lung infiltration by activated T helper (Th) 2 cells, the physiological role of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the airway remains largely undefined. Lymphotoxin-deficient alpha (LTalpha-/-) mice exhibit increased airway inflammation, paradoxically accompanied by diminished levels of IgE and reduced airway hyperresponsiveness in response to both environmental and induced antigen challenge. The severe lung inflammation in LTalpha-/- mice is Th1 in nature and can be alleviated by IgE reconstitution. Conversely, depletion of IgE in wild-type mice recapitulates the lung pathologies of LTalpha-/- mice. Therefore, this work has revealed that lymphotoxin is essential for IgE production, and a physiological role of IgE in the airway may consist of maintaining the balance of Th1 and Th2 responses to prevent aberrant inflammation.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 content type line 23 ObjectType-Article-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 Address correspondence to Yang-Xin Fu, Dept. of Pathology, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland, Rm. J541, MC3083, Chicago, IL 60637. Phone: (773) 702-0929; Fax: (773) 834-8940; email: yfu@midway.uchicago.edu Abbreviations used in this paper: BAL, bronchoalveolar lavage; BHR, bronchial hyperresponsiveness; i.t., intratracheally; LT, lymphotoxin; SEA, Schistosoma mansoni egg antigen.
ISSN:	0022-1007 1540-9538
DOI:	10.1084/jem.20021784