A unique population of neutrophils generated by air pollutant–induced lung damage exacerbates airway inflammation

Jae Woo Shin, Jihyun Kim, Seokjin Ham, Sun Mi Choi, Chang Hoon Lee, Jung Chan Lee, Ji Hyung Kim, Sang Heon Cho, Hye Ryun Kang, You Me Kim, Doo Hyun Chung, Yeonseok Chung, Yoe Sik Bae, Yong Soo Bae, Tae Young Roh, Taesoo Kim, Hye Young Kim

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    28 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Background: Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) are the main component of traffic-related air pollution and have been implicated in the pathogenesis and exacerbation of asthma. However, the mechanism by which DEP exposure aggravates asthma symptoms remains unclear. Objective: This study aimed to identify a key cellular player of air pollutant-induced asthma exacerbation and development. Methods: We examined the distribution of innate immune cells in the murine models of asthma induced by house dust mite and DEP. Changes in immune cell profiles caused by DEP exposure were confirmed by flow cytometry and RNA-Seq analysis. The roles of sialic acid–binding, Ig-like lectin F (SiglecF)-positive neutrophils were further evaluated by adoptive transfer experiment and in vitro functional studies. Results: DEP exposure induced a unique population of lung granulocytes that coexpressed Ly6G and SiglecF. These cells differed phenotypically, morphologically, functionally, and transcriptionally from other SiglecF-expressing cells in the lungs. Our findings with murine models suggest that intratracheal challenge with DEPs induces the local release of adenosine triphosphate, which is a damage-associated molecular pattern signal. Adenosine triphosphate promotes the expression of SiglecF on neutrophils, and these SiglecF+ neutrophils worsen type 2 and 3 airway inflammation by producing high levels of cysteinyl leukotrienes and neutrophil extracellular traps. We also found Siglec8- (which corresponds to murine SiglecF) expressing neutrophils, and we found it in patients with asthma–chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap. Conclusion: The SiglecF+ neutrophil is a novel and critical player in airway inflammation and targeting this population could reverse or ameliorate asthma.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1253-1269.e8
    JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
    Volume149
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2022 Apr

    Bibliographical note

    Publisher Copyright:
    © 2021 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

    Keywords

    • ATP
    • DAMP
    • Diesel exhaust particles
    • SiglecF
    • asthma
    • granulocytes
    • leukotrienes
    • neutrophil extracellular traps

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Immunology and Allergy
    • Immunology

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