Allergic airway recall responses require IL-9 from resident memory CD4+ T cells

Sci Immunol. 2022 Mar 18;7(69):eabg9296. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abg9296. Epub 2022 Mar 18.

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease with intermittent flares predominately mediated through memory T cells. Yet, the identity of long-term memory cells that mediate allergic recall responses is not well defined. In this report, using a mouse model of chronic allergen exposure followed by an allergen-free rest period, we characterized a subpopulation of CD4+ T cells that secreted IL-9 as an obligate effector cytokine. IL-9-secreting cells had a resident memory T cell phenotype, and blocking IL-9 during a recall challenge or deleting IL-9 from T cells significantly diminished airway inflammation and airway hyperreactivity. T cells secreted IL-9 in an allergen recall-specific manner, and secretion was amplified by IL-33. Using scRNA-seq and scATAC-seq, we defined the cellular identity of a distinct population of T cells with a proallergic cytokine pattern. Thus, in a recall model of allergic airway inflammation, IL-9 secretion from a multicytokine-producing CD4+ T cell population was required for an allergen recall response.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Allergens
  • Asthma*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
  • Cytokines
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity*
  • Inflammation
  • Interleukin-9

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Cytokines
  • Interleukin-9