Asthmatic changes in mice lacking T-bet are mediated by IL-13

Abstract

Mice with a targeted deletion of the T-bet gene exhibit spontaneous airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), airway inflammation, enhanced recovery of T_h2 cytokines from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, sub-epithelial collagen deposition and myofibroblast transformation. Here we analyze the mechanisms responsible for the chronic airway remodeling observed in these mice. CD4+ T cells isolated from the lung of T-bet-deficient mice were spontaneously activated CD44^highCD69^high memory T cells, with a typical T_h2 cytokine profile. Neutralization of IL-13 but not IL-4 resulted in amelioration of AHR in airways of mice lacking T-bet. IL-13 blockade also led to reduced eosinophilia and decreased vimentin, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA) levels. T-bet^−/− lung fibroblasts proliferated very rapidly and released increased amounts of TGF-β. Interestingly, neutralization of TGF-β ameliorated aspects of the chronic airway remodeling phenotype but did not reduce AHR. These data highlight a T-bet-directed function for IL-13 in controlling lung remodeling that is both dependent on and independent of its interaction with TGF-β in the asthmatic airway.