Cysteinyl leukotriene 2 receptor on dendritic cells negatively regulates ligand-dependent allergic pulmonary inflammation

J Immunol. 2012 Nov 1;189(9):4556-65. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1201865. Epub 2012 Sep 21.

Abstract

Cysteinyl leukotrienes (cys-LTs) can mediate Th2 immunity to the house dust mite, Dermatophagoides farinae, via the type 1 receptor CysLT(1)R on dendritic cells (DCs). However, the role of the homologous type 2 receptor CysLT(2)R in Th2 immunity is unknown. D. farinae sensitization and challenge of CysLT(2)R-deficient mice showed a marked augmentation of eosinophilic pulmonary inflammation, serum IgE, and Th2 cytokines. Wild-type (WT) mice sensitized by adoptive transfer of D. farinae-pulsed CysLT(2)R-deficient bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) also had a marked increase in D. farinae-elicited eosinophilic lung inflammation and Th2 cytokines in restimulated hilar nodes. This response was absent in mice sensitized with D. farinae-pulsed BMDCs lacking leukotriene C(4) synthase (LTC(4)S), CysLT(1)R, or both CysLT(2)R/LTC(4)S, suggesting that CysLT(2)R negatively regulates LTC(4)S- and CysLT(1)R-dependent DC-mediated sensitization. CysLT(2)R-deficient BMDCs had increased CysLT(1)R-dependent LTD(4)-induced ERK phosphorylation, whereas N-methyl LTC(4) activation of CysLT(2)R on WT BMDCs reduced such signaling. Activation of endogenously expressed CysLT(1)R and CysLT(2)R occurred over an equimolar range of LTD(4) and N-methyl LTC(4), respectively. Although the baseline expression of cell surface CysLT(1)R was not increased on CysLT(2)R-deficient BMDCs, it was upregulated at 24 h by a pulse of D. farinae, compared with WT or CysLT(2)R/LTC(4)S-deficient BMDCs. Importantly, treatment with N-methyl LTC(4) reduced D. farinae-induced CysLT(1)R expression on WT BMDCs. Thus, CysLT(2)R negatively regulates the development of cys-LT-dependent Th2 pulmonary inflammation by inhibiting both CysLT(1)R signaling and D. farinae-induced LTC(4)S-dependent cell surface expression of CysLT(1)R on DCs. Furthermore, these studies highlight how the biologic activity of cys-LTs can be tightly regulated by competition between these endogenously expressed receptors.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Dermatophagoides / metabolism*
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / pathology
  • Dermatophagoides farinae / immunology*
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Down-Regulation / immunology*
  • Eosinophilia / immunology
  • Eosinophilia / metabolism
  • Eosinophilia / pathology
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Inflammation Mediators / physiology*
  • Ligands
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Receptors, Leukotriene / deficiency
  • Receptors, Leukotriene / metabolism
  • Receptors, Leukotriene / physiology*
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / immunology*
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / metabolism*
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / pathology
  • Signal Transduction / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens, Dermatophagoides
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Ligands
  • Receptors, Leukotriene
  • cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 2
  • leukotriene D4 receptor