Dysregulation of alveolar macrophages unleashes dendritic cell-mediated mechanisms of allergic airway inflammation

Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by eosinophilia and T helper type 2 (Th2) cell activation. However, little information is available on the mechanisms leading to this pathology. We previously showed that alveolar macrophages (AM) from rats with experimental asthma lose their ability to prevent asthma symptoms. To understand the implication of AM in lung immunity, we investigated the influence of AM sensitization status on lung dendritic cell (DC) activation induced by allergen challenge in vivo. Rat sensitized to ovalbumin developed airway inflammation (eosinophils and Th2 cells) and demonstrated myeloid DC (mDC) activation following allergen exposure. The replacement of AM of sensitized animals by AM from naive animals did not affect allergen-triggered eosinophilia but completely abolished lung mDC allergen capture and migration to the lymph nodes, as well as Th2 cell polarization. Moreover, immunosuppressive functions of naive AM occurred in conjunction with low engulfment of allergens but without variation of major histocompatibility complex II and CD23 expression. Interestingly, sensitized AM that were withdrawn from the inflammatory environment regained their immunosuppressive functions when transferred to sensitized rats. Thus, these are the first in vivo evidences showing that dysregulation of AM functions is sufficient to induce DC-triggered allergic response.