Epithelial exosomal contactin-1 promotes monocyte-derived dendritic cell–dominant T-cell responses in asthma
Authors: Meng Zhang, Qianying Yu, Wei Tang, Yujiao Wu, JiaJia Lv, Lin Sun, Guochao Shi, Min Wu, Jieming Qu, Caixia Di, Zhenwei Xia
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2021)

BackgroundExosomes have emerged as a vital player in cell-cell communication; however, whether airway epithelial cell (AEC)-generated exosomes participate in asthma development remains unknown.ObjectiveOur aims were to characterize the AEC-secreted exosomes and the potentially functional protein(s) that may contribute to the proinflammatory effects of AEC exosomes in the dendritic cell (DC)-dominant airway allergic models and to confirm their clinical significance in patients with asthma.MethodsMice were treated with exosomes derived from house dust mite (HDM)-stimulated AECs (HDM-AEC-EXOs) or monocyte-derived DCs primed by HDM and/or contactin-1 (CNTN1). The numbers of DCs in the lung were determined by flow cytometry. Proteomic analysis of purified HDM-AEC-EXOs was performed. CNTN1 small interfering RNA was designed to probe its role in airway allergy, and γ-secretase inhibitor was used to determine involvement of the Notch pathway.ResultsHDM-AEC-EXOs facilitate the recruitment, proliferation, migration, and activation of monocyte-derived DCs in cell culture and in mice. CNTN1 in exosomes is a critical player in asthma pathology. RNA interference–mediated silencing and pharmaceutical inhibitors characterize Notch2 receptor as necessary for relaying the CNTN1 signal to activate TH2 cell/TH17 cell immune response. Studies of patients with asthma also support existence of the CNTN1-Notch2 axis that has been observed in cell and mouse models.ConclusionThis study's findings reveal a novel role for CNTN1 in asthma pathogenesis mediated through exosome secretion, indicating a potential strategy for the treatment of allergic airway inflammation. Exosomes have emerged as a vital player in cell-cell communication; however, whether airway epithelial cell (AEC)-generated exosomes participate in asthma development remains unknown. Our aims were to characterize the AEC-secreted exosomes and the potentially functional protein(s) that may contribute to the proinflammatory effects of AEC exosomes in the dendritic cell (DC)-dominant airway allergic models and to confirm their clinical significance in patients with asthma. Mice were treated with exosomes derived from house dust mite (HDM)-stimulated AECs (HDM-AEC-EXOs) or monocyte-derived DCs primed by HDM and/or contactin-1 (CNTN1). The numbers of DCs in the lung were determined by flow cytometry. Proteomic analysis of purified HDM-AEC-EXOs was performed. CNTN1 small interfering RNA was designed to probe its role in airway allergy, and γ-secretase inhibitor was used to determine involvement of the Notch pathway. HDM-AEC-EXOs facilitate the recruitment, proliferation, migration, and activation of monocyte-derived DCs in cell culture and in mice. CNTN1 in exosomes is a critical player in asthma pathology. RNA interference–mediated silencing and pharmaceutical inhibitors characterize Notch2 receptor as necessary for relaying the CNTN1 signal to activate TH2 cell/TH17 cell immune response. Studies of patients with asthma also support existence of the CNTN1-Notch2 axis that has been observed in cell and mouse models. This study's findings reveal a novel role for CNTN1 in asthma pathogenesis mediated through exosome secretion, indicating a potential strategy for the treatment of allergic airway inflammation.