Human basophils interact with memory T cells to augment Th17 responses

Abstract

Basophils are a rare population of granulocytes that have long been associated with IgE-mediated and Th2-associated allergic diseases. However, the role of basophils in Th17 and/or Th1 diseases has not been reported. In the present study, we report that basophils can be detected in the mucosa of Th17-associated lung and inflammatory bowel disease and accumulate in inflamed colons containing large quantities of IL-33. We also demonstrate that circulating basophils increased memory Th17 responses. Accordingly, IL-3-or IL-33-activated basophils amplified IL-17 release in effector memory T cells (T EM ), central memory T cells (T CM) IntroductionBasophils are the least abundant of the granulocyte population, accounting for only 0.5%-1% of circulating leukocytes, and, together with eosinophils and mast cells (MCs), have long been associated with allergic diseases and helminth infections. [1][2][3][4] Like MCs, basophils express the tetrameric form of the high-affinity receptor for IgE (Fc⑀RI) and are a major source of histamine, which is stored in their cytoplasmic basophilic granules. Basophils and MCs belong to distinct cell lineages and are biologically very different. 5 Basophils are short-lived circulating cells (estimated half-life of 2 days) that differentiate and mature in the BM, whereas MCs are long-lived, tissue-resident cells that differentiate in peripheral tissues from locally recruited circulating CD34 ϩ precursors released from the BM. MCs are easily detectable at the interface of the organism with the external world; in contrast, basophils are rarely found in normal tissues, but can be detected by immunohistochemistry in inflamed tissues of patients with asthma, allergic rhinitis, and various allergic skin diseases. 1,6,7 However, the presence of basophils in the mucosa of patients with inflammatory diseases that are independent of IgE has not been reported.The CD4 T cells play a key role in orchestrating the pathologic immune reaction of chronic inflammatory disorders. It is now known that Th17 effectors play a crucial role in pulmonary cystic fibrosis (CF). 8 Similarly, Th17 and Th1 cells are involved in mucosa-associated chronic disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which include Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). 9-11 Specifically, CD is a chronic and relapsing T cell-driven inflammatory disease of the entire gastrointestinal tract. CD4 effector T cells are generated in draining lymph nodes and recruited into the intestinal tissues, where they contribute to the inflammatory process and tissue destruction. 9 Once initiated, inflammation is first characterized by the expression of proinflammatory cytokines involved in innate immunity (ie, IL-12, TNF-␣, and IL-23), followed by those involved in adaptive immunity (ie, . 9,12 APC-derived IL-1␤, together with IL-6, promotes the development of human Th17 cells in vitro. 13 IL-23 promotes the expansion of memory Th17 cells. 14 In mice, IL-23 drives pathogenic Th17/Th1 cells. 15 Double IL-17-and IFN-␥-producing CD4 T cells ar...

Receptor activating NF-κB ligand (RANKL) is a constitutive intracellular protein in resting human basophils and is strongly induced on their surface by interleukin 3

“…In addition to allergic diseases, basophils have been shown to contribute to several disease states, such as autoimmunity and inflammatory disorders (Rodriguez Gomez et al 2014). For instance, Wakahara et al recently detected basophils in the mucosa of human Th17-associated lung and inflammatory bowel disease (Wakahara et al 2012). This study thus highlighted that basophils were not restricted to the well-known Th2 immune response involved in allergic disease or against helminths.…”

“…Huber et al recently showed that IL-3-activated basophils could enhance monocyte derived DCs survival (Huber et al 2014) however whether this effect was statistically significant and was RANKL-dependent was not assessed. As basophils were recently shown to enhance IL-17 and IFN-␥ production in memory CD4+ T cells (Wakahara et al 2012), it would be also interesting to assess the potential role of RANKL during basophil-T cell interaction. However, as activated T cells also express RANKL, this will be difficult to demonstrate especially in human.…”

The histamine H4 receptor mediates inflammation and Th17 responses in preclinical models of arthritis

“…Mast cells have been shown to be important mediators in some animal models of arthritis and have been found to be increased in the synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis; however, it is still not clear whether they are key players in the disease 27 28. Basophils may also play a role, and it was recently shown that histamine release from basophils amplifies IL-17 release from T cells 29. It is important to note that the H 4 R has a very high affinity for histamine, especially compared with the histamine H 1 and H 2 receptors, and therefore it may be activated by cells that release even low levels of histamine.…”

International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. XCVIII. Histamine Receptors

“…Finally, a reduction in IL-17 levels via H 4 receptor blockade has been noted in mouse models of asthma, dermatitis, and arthritis (Dunford et al, 2006;Cowden et al, 2010bCowden et al, , 2014. Basophils have been implicated in enhancing Th17 responses in humans, and this effect appears to be mediated by H 2 receptor and H 4 receptor (Wakahara et al, 2012). In human neutrophils, engagement of the H 4 receptor blocked the adhesion-dependent degranulation, indicating a possible anti-inflammatory effect of the H 4 receptor on these cells (Dib et al, 2014).…”