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Background Eosinophils accumulate at the site of allergic inflammation and are critical effector cells in allergic diseases. Recent studies have also suggested a role for eosinophils in the resolution of inflammation. Objective To determine the role of eosinophils in the resolution phase of the response to repeated allergen challenge. Methods Eosinophil-deficient (PHIL) and wild-type (WT) littermates were sensitized and challenged to ovalbumin (OVA) 7 or 11 times. Airway inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to inhaled methacholine, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytokine levels, and lung histology were monitored. Intracellular cytokine levels in BAL leukocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry. Groups of OVA-sensitized PHIL mice received bone marrow from WT or IL-10 −/− donors 30 days before the OVA challenge. Results PHIL and WT mice developed similar levels of AHR and numbers of leukocytes and cytokine levels in BAL fluid after OVA sensitization and 7 airway challenges; no eosinophils were detected in the PHIL mice. Unlike WT mice, sensitized PHIL mice maintained AHR, lung inflammation, and increased levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in BAL fluid after 11 challenges whereas IL-10 and TGF-β levels were decreased. Restoration of eosinophil numbers after injection of bone marrow from WT but not IL-10–deficient mice restored levels of IL-10 and TGF-β in BAL fluid as well as suppressed AHR and inflammation. Intracellular staining of BAL leukocytes revealed the capacity of eosinophils to produce IL-10. Conclusions After repeated allergen challenge, eosinophils appeared not essential for the development of AHR and lung inflammation but contributed to the resolution of AHR and inflammation by producing IL-10. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Janus kinases (JAKs) are regulators of signaling through cytokine receptors. The importance of JAK1/3 signaling on TH2 differentiation and development of lung allergic responses has not been investigated. Objective: We sought to examine a selective JAK1/3 inhibitor (R256) on differentiation of TH subsets in vitro and on development of ovalbumin (OVA)–induced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and inflammation in an experimental model of asthma. Methods: A selective JAK1/3 inhibitor was used to assay the importance of this pathway on induction of TH1, TH2, and TH17 differentiation in vitro. In vivo, the effects of inhibiting JAK1/3 signaling were examined by administering the inhibitor during the sensitization or allergen challenge phases in the primary challenge model or just before provocative challenge in the secondary challenge model. Airway inflammation and AHR were examined after the last airway challenge. Results: In vitro, R256 inhibited differentiation of TH2 but not TH1 or TH17 cells, which was associated with downregulation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 6 and STAT5 phosphorylation. However, once polarized, TH2 cells were unaffected by the inhibitor. In vivo, R256 administered during the OVA sensitization phase prevented the development of AHR, airway eosinophilia, mucus hypersecretion, and TH2 cytokine production without changes in TH1 and TH17 cytokine levels, indicating that selective blockade of TH2 differentiation was critical. Inhibitor administration after OVA sensitization but during the challenge phases in the primary or secondary challenge models similarly suppressed AHR, airway eosinophilia, and mucus hypersecretion without any reduction in TH2 cytokine production, suggesting the inhibitory effects were downstream of TH2 cytokine receptor signaling pathways. Conclusions: Targeting the TH2-dependent JAK/STAT activation pathway represents a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of asthma. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The provirus integration site for Moloney murine leukemia virus (Pim) 1 kinase is an oncogenic serine/threonine kinase implicated in cytokine-induced cell signaling, whereas Runt-related transcription factor (Runx) has been implicated in the regulation of T-cell differentiation. The interaction of Pim1 kinase and Runx3 in the pathogenesis of peanut allergy has not been defined. Objectives: We sought to determine the effects of Pim1 kinase modulation on Runx3 expression and TH2 and TH17 cell function in an experimental model of peanut allergy. Methods: A Pim1 kinase inhibitor was administered to peanut-sensitized and challenged wild-type and Runx3 +/− mice. Symptoms, intestinal inflammation, and Pim1 kinase and Runx3 mRNA expression and protein levels were assessed. The effects of Pim1 kinase inhibition on TH1, TH2, and TH17 differentiation in vivo and in vitro were also determined. Results: Peanut sensitization and challenge resulted in accumulation of inflammatory cells and goblet cell metaplasia and increased levels of Pim1 kinase and TH2 and TH17 cytokine production but decreased levels of Runx3 mRNA and protein in the small intestines of wild-type mice. All of these findings were normalized with Pim1 kinase inhibition. In sensitized and challenged Runx3 +/− mice, inhibition of Pim1 kinase had less effect on the development of the full spectrum of intestinal allergic responses. In vitro inhibition of Pim1 kinase attenuated TH2 and TH17 cell differentiation and expansion while maintaining Runx3 expression in T-cell cultures from wild-type mice; these effects were reduced in T-cell cultures from Runx3 +/− mice. Conclusion: These data support a novel regulatory axis involving Pim1 kinase and Runx3 in the control of food-induced allergic reactions through the regulation of TH2 and TH17 differentiation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]