Natural killer T cells are dispensable in the development of allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammation and remodelling in a mouse model of chronic asthma

• Published in: Clinical and experimental immunology 2010-07, Vol.161 (1), p.159-170
• Main Authors: Koh, Y.-I, Shim, J.-U, Lee, J.-H, Chung, I.-J, Min, J.-J, Rhee, J.H, Lee, H.C, Chung, D.H, Wi, J.-O
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute Disease; airway inflammation; Airway Remodeling - immunology; airway remodelling; Airway Resistance; airway responsiveness; Allergens - toxicity; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Animal Models; Animals; Antigens, CD1d - genetics; Asthma; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchial Hyperreactivity - etiology; Bronchial Hyperreactivity - immunology; Bronchitis - etiology; Bronchitis - immunology; Chronic Disease; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Fibrosis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Immunoglobulin E - biosynthesis; Immunoglobulin E - genetics; Lymphocytes; Male; Medical sciences; Metaplasia; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Knockout; Muscle, Smooth - pathology; Muscular system; natural killer T cells; Natural Killer T-Cells - immunology; Ovalbumin - immunology; Ovalbumin - toxicity; Pneumology; Pulmonary Eosinophilia - etiology; Rodents; Th2 Cells - immunology
• ISSN: 0009-9104; 1365-2249
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2010.04151.x

Natural killer T (NK T) cells have been shown to play an essential role in the development of allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and/or airway inflammation in mouse models of acute asthma. Recently, NK T cells have been reported to be required for the development of AHR in a virus induced chronic asthma model. We investigated whether NK T cells were required for the development of allergen-induced AHR, airway inflammation and airway remodelling in a mouse model of chronic asthma. CD1d⁻/⁻ mice that lack NK T cells were used for the experiments. In the chronic model, AHR, eosinophilic inflammation, remodelling characteristics including mucus metaplasia, subepithelial fibrosis and increased mass of the airway smooth muscle, T helper type 2 (Th2) immune response and immunoglobulin (Ig)E production were equally increased in both CD1d⁻/⁻ mice and wild-type mice. However, in the acute model, AHR, eosinophilic inflammation, Th2 immune response and IgE production were significantly decreased in the CD1d⁻/⁻ mice compared to wild-type. CD1d-dependent NK T cells may not be required for the development of allergen-induced AHR, eosinophilic airway inflammation and airway remodelling in chronic asthma model, although they play a role in the development of AHR and eosinophilic inflammation in acute asthma model.