Deletion of PIKfyve alters alveolar macrophage populations and exacerbates allergic inflammation in mice

Abstract

Alveolar macrophages (AMs) are specialized tissue-resident macro-phages that orchestrate the immune responses to inhaled patho-gens and maintain organ homeostasis of the lung. Dysregulation of AMs is associated with allergic inflammation and asthma. Here, we examined the role of a phosphoinositide kinase PIKfyve in AM development and function. Mice with conditionally deleted PIKfyve in macrophages have altered AM populations. PIKfyve deficiency results in a loss of AKT activation in response to GM-CSF, a cyto-kine critical for AM development. Upon exposure to house dust mite extract, mutant mice display severe lung inflammation and allergic asthma accompanied by infiltration of eosinophils and lymphoid cells. Moreover, they have defects in production of reti-noic acid and fail to support incorporation of Foxp3 + T reg cells in the lung, resulting in exacerbation of lung inflammation. Thus, PIKfyve plays a role in preventing excessive lung inflammation through regulating AM function.