Short ragweed pollen promotes M2 macrophage polarization via TSLP/TSLPR/OX40L signaling in allergic inflammation.

This study was to explore the role and mechanism of macrophages in pollen-triggered allergic inflammation. A murine model of short ragweed (SRW) pollen-induced experimental allergic conjunctivitis (EAC), and bone marrow (BM)-macrophages cultures were used. Typical allergic manifestations and TSLP-stimulated Th2 hyperresponse were observed in ocular surface of EAC model in wild-type (WT) mice induced by SRW. The M2 phenotype markers, Arg1, Ym1 and FIZZ1, were highly expressed by conjunctiva and draining cervical lymph nodes (CLNs) of WT-EAC mice when compared with controls, as evaluated by RT-qPCR and Immunofluorescent double staining with macrophage marker F4/80. The stimulated expression of TSLPR and OX40L by macrophage was detected in conjunctiva and CLNs by RT-qPCR, double staining, and flow cytometry. M2 macrophages were found to produce TARC and MDC. In contrast, EAC model with TSLPR mice did not show allergic signs and any increase of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13) and M2 markers. In vitro cultures confirmed that SRW extract stimulates expression of TSLPR, OX40L, TARC, MDC, and three M2 markers by BM-macrophages from WT mice, but not from TSLPR mice. These findings demonstrate that SRW pollen primes macrophage polarization toward to M2 phenotype via TSLP/TSLPR/OX40L signaling to amplify allergic inflammation.