Galectin-9 expands immunosuppressive macrophages to ameliorate T-cell-mediated lung inflammation

Eur J Immunol. 2010 Feb;40(2):548-58. doi: 10.1002/eji.200939886.

Abstract

Galectin-9 (Gal-9) plays pivotal roles in the modulation of innate and adaptive immunity to suppress T-cell-mediated autoimmune models. However, it remains unclear if Gal-9 plays a suppressive role for T-cell function in non-autoimmune disease models. We assessed the effects of Gal-9 on experimental hypersensitivity pneumonitis induced by Trichosporon asahii. When Gal-9 was given subcutaneously to C57BL/6 mice at the time of challenge with T. asahii, it significantly suppressed T. asahii-induced lung inflammation, as the levels of IL-1, IL-6, IFN-gamma, and IL-17 were significantly reduced in the BALF of Gal-9-treated mice. Moreover, co-culture of anti-CD3-stimulated CD4 T cells with BALF cells harvested from Gal-9-treated mice on day 1 resulted in diminished CD4 T-cell proliferation and decreased levels of IFN-gamma and IL-17. CD11b(+)Ly-6C(high)F4/80(+) BALF Mphi expanded by Gal-9 were responsible for the suppression. We further found in vitro that Gal-9, only in the presence of T. asahii, expands CD11b(+)Ly-6C(high)F4/80(+) cells from BM cells, and the cells suppress T-cell proliferation and IFN-gamma and IL-17 production. The present results indicate that Gal-9 expands immunosuppressive CD11b(+)Ly-6C(high) Mphi to ameliorate Th1/Th17 cell-mediated hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Ly / immunology
  • Antigens, Ly / metabolism
  • Blotting, Western
  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology
  • Bone Marrow Cells / drug effects
  • Bone Marrow Cells / immunology
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / chemistry
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
  • CD11b Antigen / immunology
  • CD11b Antigen / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Galectins / genetics
  • Galectins / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-1 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-17 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Macrophages / cytology
  • Macrophages / drug effects*
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Pneumonia / immunology
  • Pneumonia / microbiology
  • Pneumonia / prevention & control*
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Trichosporon / growth & development
  • Trichosporon / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens, Ly
  • CD11b Antigen
  • Galectins
  • Interleukin-1
  • Interleukin-17
  • Interleukin-6
  • Ly-6C antigen, mouse
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Interferon-gamma