Myeloid-IL4Rα is an indispensable link in IL-33-ILCs-IL-13-IL4Rα axis of eosinophil recruitment in murine lungs

Abstract

Increased eosinophil recruitment is a hallmark feature of eosinophilic disorders. Here, we delineated the key molecular and cellular players involved in physiological eosinophilic recruitment during normal postnatal lung development in mice. Physiological eosinophilic recruitment was consistently present in 7-, 10-, and 15-day-old neonatal mice, but not in 42-day-old mice. This feature was completely abolished in interleukin 33 (IL-33)-, interleukin 2 receptor gamma chain (IL2rγ)-, and interleukin 4 receptor alpha (IL4Rα)-knockout mice, but not in recombination activating gene 1 (Rag1)-knockout mice demonstrating an indispensable role for IL-33, innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), and IL4Rα in eosinophil recruitment. Interestingly, myeloid-specific IL4Rα-deficient (mye-IL4Rα−/−) mice had significantly reduced eosinophilia in the airspaces that was associated with reduced levels of IL-4 and IL-5 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Further, we tested the effect of myeloid-specific IL4Rα deficiency on IL-13-induced eosinophil recruitment into adult lung airspaces. Eosinophil recruitment into the airspaces was elevated in IL-13-treated WT mice but not in IL-13-treated mye-IL4Rα−/− mice. Consistent with the degree of eosinophilia, the BALF levels of eosinophil recruitment-associated cytokines were significantly elevated in IL-13-treated WT but not in IL-13-treated mye-IL4Rα−/− mice. These data establish that myeloid-IL4Rα is an indispensable component of the IL-33-ILCsIL-13-IL4Rα axis of eosinophil recruitment.