Dual TCR expression biases lung inflammation in DO11.10 transgenic mice and promotes neutrophilia via microbiota-induced Th17 differentiation

Abstract

A commonly used mouse model of asthma is based on i.p. sensitization to OVA together with aluminum hydroxide (alum). In wild-type BALB/c mice, subsequent aerosol challenge using this protein generates an eosinophilic inflammation associated with Th2 cytokine expression. By constrast, in DO11.10 mice, which are transgenic for an OVA-specific TCR, the same treatment fails to induce eosinophilia, but instead promotes lung neutrophilia. In this study, we show that this neutrophilic infiltration results from increased IL-17A and IL-17F production, whereas the eosinophilic response could be restored upon blockade of IFN-γ, independently of the Th17 response. In addition, we identified a CD4(+) cell population specifically present in DO11.10 mice that mediates the same inflammatory response upon transfer into RAG2(-/-) mice. This population contained a significant proportion of cells expressing an additional endogenous TCR α-chain and was not present in RAG2(-/-) DO11.10 mice, suggesting dual antigenic specificities. This particular cell population expressed markers of memory cells, secreted high levels of IL-17A, and other cytokines after short-term restimulation in vitro, and triggered a neutrophilic response in vivo upon OVA aerosol challenge. The relative numbers of these dual TCR lymphocytes increased with the age of the animals, and IL-17 production was abolished if mice were treated with large-spectrum antibiotics, suggesting that their differentiation depends on foreign Ags provided by gut microflora. Taken together, our data indicate that dual TCR expression biases the OVA-specific response in DO11.10 mice by inhibiting eosinophilic responses via IFN-γ and promoting a neutrophilic inflammation via microbiota-induced Th17 differentiation.