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Research ArticleImmunologyTransplantation Open Access | 10.1172/jci.insight.168911

Eosinophils restrain humoral alloimmunity after lung transplantation

Zhongcheng Mei,1 May A. Khalil,1 Yizhan Guo,1 Dongge Li,1 Anirban Banerjee,1 Yuriko Terada,2 Yuhei Yokoyama,2 Christina Kratzmeier,1 Kelly Chen,1 Lushen Li,1 Christine L. Lau,1 Jean-Paul Courneya,3 Irina G. Luzina,3 Sergei P. Atamas,3 Andrew E. Gelman,2,4 Daniel Kreisel,2,4 Elizabeth A. Jacobsen,5 and Alexander S. Krupnick1,6

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.

Find articles by Mei, Z. in: PubMed | Google Scholar |

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.

Find articles by Khalil, M. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

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.

Find articles by Guo, Y. in: PubMed | Google Scholar |

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.

Find articles by Li, D. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

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.

Find articles by Banerjee, A. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

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.

Find articles by Terada, Y. in: PubMed | Google Scholar |

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.

Find articles by Yokoyama, Y. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

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.

Find articles by Kratzmeier, C. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

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.

Find articles by Chen, K. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

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.

Find articles by Li, L. in: PubMed | Google Scholar |

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.

Find articles by Lau, C. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

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.

Find articles by Courneya, J. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

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.

Find articles by Luzina, I. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

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.

Find articles by Atamas, S. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

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.

Find articles by Gelman, A. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

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.

Find articles by Kreisel, D. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

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.

Find articles by Jacobsen, E. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

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

Published in Volume 9, Issue 3 on February 8, 2024
JCI Insight. 2024;9(3):e168911. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.168911.
© 2024 Mei et al. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Published February 8, 2024 - Version history
Received: January 17, 2023; Accepted: December 27, 2023
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Abstract

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.

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