NKT cells activated by apoptotie cells through TIM-1 regulate asthma

Boston Children'S Hospital, Boston MA

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Abstract

The long-term goals of Project 1 are to determine how TIM-1, which binds phsophatidylserine (PtdSer) on apoptotic cells, regulates the development of asthma. In the previous grant period, we showed that TIMl is an important atopy susceptibility gene interacting with the envirormient, and that TIM-1 is an important receptor for PtdSer. In the next grant period, we will extend these observations, and hypothesize that asthma is regulated by Natural Killer T (NKT) cells expressing TIM-1, and activated by apoptotic bronchial epithelial cells expressing PtdSer. We will show that NKT cells activated by apoptotic cells in the airways can amplify innate and adaptive immunity, and cause airway hyperreactivity (AHR), a cardinal feature of asthma. In Specific Aim 1, we propose to clarify the mechanisms by which TIM-1 costimulates the activation of NKT cells. We will demonstrate that apoptotic cells bind to and activate NKT cells, in a TIM-1 and PtdSer specific manner. Moreover, we will show that such a pathway can occur in vivo, by establishing an in vivo model in which liver cells, made apoptotic by treatment with anti-Fas mAb, activate NKT cells, which are present in large numbers in the liver. In Specific Aim 2, we hypothesize that the hepatitis A virus (HAV), by binding to TIM-1 on human NKT cells, can activate the NKT cells. We will show that that HAV-activated NKT cells are cytotoxic for hepatocytes, and suggest that these HAV-activated NKT cells later protect against the development of asthma. We will also show that TIMl, a susceptibility gene for asthma, is also a susceptibility gene for severe HAV infection and hepatitis. Moreover, by examining a monkey model of HAV infection, we will demonstrate that HAV infection is indeed associated with the activation and expansion of hepatic NKT cells. In Specific Aim 3, we will examine how NKT cells, responding through TIM-1 to apoptotic airway epithelial cells in the lung, mediate AHR. We hypothesize that oxidative stress in the airways causes airway epithelial cell apoptosis, which can then activate NKT cells, resulting in the development of AHR. Our studies will be facilitated by unique reagents, including primary NKT cell lines, activating and blocking anti-TIM-1 mAb, TIM-1 Tg mice, TIM -/- mice, TIM-3-/- mice, Nrf2 -/- mice and Rhesus monkeys. These studies will provide significant insight into an important human atopy susceptibility gene (TIMl). Moreover, we will demonstrate that TIM-1 on NKT cells functions as a pattern recognition receptor that senses PtdSer as a DAMP (damage associated molecular pattern), and that apoptotic bronchial epithelial cells provide a "danger" signal that activates NKT cells, profoundly affecting airway inflammation and asthma.