Small interfering RNA against CD86 during allergen challenge blocks experimental allergic asthma

Research

Yukari Asai-Tajiri¹, Koichiro Matsumoto^1*, Satoru Fukuyama¹, Keiko Kan-o¹, Takako Nakano¹, Ken Tonai¹, Tatsukuni Ohno², Miyuki Azuma², Hiromasa Inoue¹³ and Yoichi Nakanishi¹

• *Corresponding author: Koichiro Matsumoto koichi@kokyu.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp

Author Affiliations

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Respiratory Research 2014, 15:132  doi:10.1186/s12931-014-0132-z

Published: 27 October 2014

Abstract

Background

CD86-CD28 interaction has been suggested as the principal costimulatory pathway for the activation and differentiation of naïve T cells in allergic inflammation. However, it remains uncertain whether this pathway also has an essential role in the effector phase. We sought to determine the contribution of CD86 on dendritic cells in the reactivation of allergen-specific Th2 cells.

Methods

We investigated the effects of the downregulation of CD86 by short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) on Th2 cytokine production in the effector phase in vitro and on asthma phenotypes in ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized and -challenged mice.

Results

Treatment of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) with CD86 siRNA attenuated LPS-induced upregulation of CD86. CD86 siRNA treatment impaired BMDCs’ ability to activate OVA-specific Th2 cells. Intratracheal administration of CD86 siRNA during OVA challenge downregulated CD86 expression in the airway mucosa. CD86 siRNA treatment ameliorated OVA-induced airway eosinophilia, airway hyperresponsiveness, and the elevations of OVA-specific IgE in the sera and IL-5, IL-13, and CCL17 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, but not the goblet cell hyperplasia.

Conclusion

These results suggest that local administration of CD86 siRNA during the effector phase ameliorates lines of asthma phenotypes. Targeting airway dendritic cells with siRNA suppresses airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in an experimental model of allergic asthma.