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Interleukin‐16 aggravates ovalbumin‐induced allergic inflammation by enhancing Th2 and Th17 cytokine production in a mouse model
Author(s) -
Li Chunxia,
Dai Jun,
Dong Guanjun,
Ma Qun,
Li Zhihua,
Zhang Hui,
Yan Fenglian,
Zhang Junfeng,
Wang Bo,
Shi Hui,
Zhu Yuzhen,
Yao Xiaoying,
Si Chuanping,
Xiong Huabao
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1111/imm.13068
Subject(s) - ovalbumin , immunology , immunoglobulin e , eosinophil , allergic inflammation , cytokine , bronchoalveolar lavage , asthma , medicine , inflammation , interleukin 4 , allergy , eotaxin , interleukin 5 , interleukin , interleukin 13 , lung , immune system , antibody
Summary Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that involves a variety of cytokines and cells. Interleukin‐16 (IL‐16) is highly expressed during allergic airway inflammation and is involved in its development. However, its specific mechanism of action remains unclear. In the present study, we used an animal model of ovalbumin (OVA)‐induced allergic asthma with mice harboring an IL‐16 gene deletion to investigate the role of this cytokine in asthma, in addition to its underlying mechanism. Increased IL‐16 expression was observed during OVA‐induced asthma in C57BL/6J mice. However, when OVA was used to induce asthma in IL‐16 −/− mice, a diminished inflammatory reaction, decreased bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) eosinophil numbers, and the suppression of OVA‐specific IgE levels in the serum and BALF were observed. The results also demonstrated decreased levels of T helper type 2 (Th2) and Th17 cytokines upon OVA‐induced asthma in IL‐16 −/− mice. Hence, we confirmed that IL‐16 enhances the lung allergic inflammatory response and suggest a mechanism possibly associated with the up‐regulation of IgE and the promotion of Th2 and Th17 cytokine production. This work explored the mechanism underlying the regulation of IL‐16 in asthma and provides a new target for the clinical treatment of asthma.