Matrix Metalloproteinase-9-Mediated Dendritic Cell Recruitment into the Airways Is a Critical Step in a Mouse Model of Asthma

Dendritic cells (DCs) appear to be strategically implicated in allergic diseases, including asthma. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 mediates transmigration of inflammatory leukocytes across basement membranes. This study investigated the role of MMP-9 in airway DC trafficking during allergen-induced airway inflammation. MMP-9 gene deletion affected the trafficking of pulmonary DCs in a specific way: only the inflammatory transmigration of DCs into the airway lumen was impaired, whereas DC-mediated transport of airway Ag to the thoracic lymph nodes remained unaffected. In parallel, the local production of the Th2-attracting chemokine CC chemokine ligand 17/thymus and activation-regulated chemokine, which was highly concentrated in purified lung DCs, fell short in the airways of allergen-exposed MMP-9(-/-) mice. This was accompanied by markedly reduced peribronchial eosinophilic infiltrates and impaired allergen-specific IgE production. We conclude that the specific absence of MMP-9 activity inhibits the development of allergic airway inflammation by impairing the recruitment of DCs into the airways and the local production of DC-derived proallergic chemokines.