PD-L2 modulates asthma severity by directly decreasing dendritic cell IL-12 production

Mucosal Immunol. 2013 Jul;6(4):728-39. doi: 10.1038/mi.2012.111. Epub 2012 Nov 14.

Abstract

Studies examining the role of programmed death 1 (PD-1) ligand 2 (PD-L2)/PD-1 in asthma have yielded conflicting results. To clarify its role, we examined the PD-L2 expression in biopsies from human asthmatics and the lungs of aeroallergen-treated mice. PD-L2 expression in bronchial biopsies correlated with the severity of asthma. In mice, allergen exposure increased PD-L2 expression on pulmonary myeloid dendritic cells (DCs), and PD-L2 blockade diminished allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). By contrast, PD-1 blockade had no impact, suggesting that PD-L2 promotes AHR in a PD-1-independent manner. Decreased AHR was associated with enhanced serum interleukin (IL)-12 p40, and in vitro stimulation of DCs with allergen and PD-L2-Fc reduced IL-12 p70 production, suggesting that PD-L2 inhibits allergen-driven IL-12 production. In our model, IL-12 did not diminish T helper type 2 responses but rather directly antagonized IL-13-inducible gene expression, highlighting a novel role for IL-12 in regulation of IL-13 signaling. Thus, allergen-driven enhancement of PD-L2 signaling through a PD-1-independent mechanism limits IL-12 secretion, exacerbating AHR.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Allergens / immunology
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Asthma / drug therapy
  • Asthma / genetics
  • Asthma / immunology*
  • Asthma / metabolism*
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / immunology
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Interleukin-12 / biosynthesis*
  • Interleukin-12 Subunit p40 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-13 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-13 / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mucus / metabolism
  • Myeloid Cells / immunology
  • Myeloid Cells / metabolism
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Ligand 2 Protein / agonists
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Ligand 2 Protein / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Ligand 2 Protein / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Interleukin-12 Subunit p40
  • Interleukin-13
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Ligand 2 Protein
  • Interleukin-12