PD-1 pathway regulates ILC2 metabolism and PD-1 agonist treatment ameliorates airway hyperreactivity

Nat Commun. 2020 Aug 10;11(1):3998. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-17813-1.

Abstract

Allergic asthma is a leading chronic disease associated with airway hyperreactivity (AHR). Type-2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are a potent source of T-helper 2 (Th2) cytokines that promote AHR and lung inflammation. As the programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitory axis regulates a variety of immune responses, here we investigate PD-1 function in pulmonary ILC2s during IL-33-induced airway inflammation. PD-1 limits the viability of ILC2s and downregulates their effector functions. Additionally, PD-1 deficiency shifts ILC2 metabolism toward glycolysis, glutaminolysis and methionine catabolism. PD-1 thus acts as a metabolic checkpoint in ILC2s, affecting cellular activation and proliferation. As the blockade of PD-1 exacerbates AHR, we also develop a human PD-1 agonist and show that it can ameliorate AHR and suppresses lung inflammation in a humanized mouse model. Together, these results highlight the importance of PD-1 agonistic treatment in allergic asthma and underscore its therapeutic potential.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Asthma / immunology*
  • Asthma / metabolism*
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate / immunology*
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Interleukin Receptor Common gamma Subunit / genetics
  • Interleukin-33 / metabolism
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / genetics
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / metabolism*
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism
  • Transcriptome

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Il2rg protein, mouse
  • Il33 protein, mouse
  • Interleukin Receptor Common gamma Subunit
  • Interleukin-33
  • Pdcd1 protein, mouse
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • Rag2 protein, mouse