Research ArticleImmunologyTransplantation Open Access | 10.1172/jci.insight.168911
1Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
2Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
3Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
4Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
5Division of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
6Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Address correspondence to: Alexander Sasha Krupnick, University of Maryland, 29 South Greene Street, Suite 504, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. Phone: 410.328.6366; Email: AKrupnick@som.umaryland.edu.
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1Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
2Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
3Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
4Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
5Division of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
6Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Address correspondence to: Alexander Sasha Krupnick, University of Maryland, 29 South Greene Street, Suite 504, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. Phone: 410.328.6366; Email: AKrupnick@som.umaryland.edu.
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1Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
2Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
3Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
4Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
5Division of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
6Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Address correspondence to: Alexander Sasha Krupnick, University of Maryland, 29 South Greene Street, Suite 504, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. Phone: 410.328.6366; Email: AKrupnick@som.umaryland.edu.
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1Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
2Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
3Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
4Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
5Division of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
6Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Address correspondence to: Alexander Sasha Krupnick, University of Maryland, 29 South Greene Street, Suite 504, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. Phone: 410.328.6366; Email: AKrupnick@som.umaryland.edu.
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1Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
2Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
3Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
4Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
5Division of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
6Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Address correspondence to: Alexander Sasha Krupnick, University of Maryland, 29 South Greene Street, Suite 504, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. Phone: 410.328.6366; Email: AKrupnick@som.umaryland.edu.
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1Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
2Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
3Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
4Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
5Division of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
6Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Address correspondence to: Alexander Sasha Krupnick, University of Maryland, 29 South Greene Street, Suite 504, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. Phone: 410.328.6366; Email: AKrupnick@som.umaryland.edu.
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1Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
2Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
3Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
4Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
5Division of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
6Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Address correspondence to: Alexander Sasha Krupnick, University of Maryland, 29 South Greene Street, Suite 504, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. Phone: 410.328.6366; Email: AKrupnick@som.umaryland.edu.
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1Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
2Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
3Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
4Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
5Division of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
6Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Address correspondence to: Alexander Sasha Krupnick, University of Maryland, 29 South Greene Street, Suite 504, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. Phone: 410.328.6366; Email: AKrupnick@som.umaryland.edu.
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1Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
2Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
3Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
4Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
5Division of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
6Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Address correspondence to: Alexander Sasha Krupnick, University of Maryland, 29 South Greene Street, Suite 504, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. Phone: 410.328.6366; Email: AKrupnick@som.umaryland.edu.
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1Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
2Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
3Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
4Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
5Division of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
6Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Address correspondence to: Alexander Sasha Krupnick, University of Maryland, 29 South Greene Street, Suite 504, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. Phone: 410.328.6366; Email: AKrupnick@som.umaryland.edu.
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1Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
2Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
3Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
4Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
5Division of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
6Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Address correspondence to: Alexander Sasha Krupnick, University of Maryland, 29 South Greene Street, Suite 504, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. Phone: 410.328.6366; Email: AKrupnick@som.umaryland.edu.
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1Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
2Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
3Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
4Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
5Division of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
6Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Address correspondence to: Alexander Sasha Krupnick, University of Maryland, 29 South Greene Street, Suite 504, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. Phone: 410.328.6366; Email: AKrupnick@som.umaryland.edu.
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1Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
2Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
3Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
4Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
5Division of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
6Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Address correspondence to: Alexander Sasha Krupnick, University of Maryland, 29 South Greene Street, Suite 504, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. Phone: 410.328.6366; Email: AKrupnick@som.umaryland.edu.
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1Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
2Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
3Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
4Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
5Division of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
6Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Address correspondence to: Alexander Sasha Krupnick, University of Maryland, 29 South Greene Street, Suite 504, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. Phone: 410.328.6366; Email: AKrupnick@som.umaryland.edu.
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1Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
2Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
3Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
4Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
5Division of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
6Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Address correspondence to: Alexander Sasha Krupnick, University of Maryland, 29 South Greene Street, Suite 504, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. Phone: 410.328.6366; Email: AKrupnick@som.umaryland.edu.
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1Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
2Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
3Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
4Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
5Division of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
6Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Address correspondence to: Alexander Sasha Krupnick, University of Maryland, 29 South Greene Street, Suite 504, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. Phone: 410.328.6366; Email: AKrupnick@som.umaryland.edu.
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1Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
2Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
3Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
4Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
5Division of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
6Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Address correspondence to: Alexander Sasha Krupnick, University of Maryland, 29 South Greene Street, Suite 504, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. Phone: 410.328.6366; Email: AKrupnick@som.umaryland.edu.
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1Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
2Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
3Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
4Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
5Division of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
6Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Address correspondence to: Alexander Sasha Krupnick, University of Maryland, 29 South Greene Street, Suite 504, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. Phone: 410.328.6366; Email: AKrupnick@som.umaryland.edu.
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Published February 8, 2024 - More info
While the function of many leukocytes in transplant biology has been well defined, the role of eosinophils is controversial and remains poorly explored. Conflicting data exist regarding eosinophils’ role in alloimmunity. Due to their prevalence in the lung, and their defined role in other pulmonary pathologies such as asthma, we set out to explore the role of eosinophils in the long-term maintenance of the lung allograft. We noted that depletion of eosinophils results in the generation of donor-specific antibodies. Eosinophil depletion increased memory B cell, plasma cell, and antibody-secreting cell differentiation and resulted in de novo generation of follicular germinal centers. Germinal center formation depended on the expansion of CD4+Foxp3–Bcl6+CXCR5+PD-1+ T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, which increase in number after eosinophil depletion. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that eosinophils prevent Tfh cell generation by acting as the dominant source of IFN-γ in an established lung allograft, thus facilitating Th1 rather than Tfh polarization of naive CD4+ T cells. Our data thus describe what we believe is a unique and previously unknown role for eosinophils in maintaining allograft tolerance and suggest that indiscriminate administration of eosinophil-lytic corticosteroids for treatment of acute cellular rejection may inadvertently promote humoral alloimmunity.