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Updated: Apr 11, 2026
Advanced Imaging of Lung Homing Human Lymphocytes in an Experimental In Vivo Model of Allergic Inflammation Based on Light-sheet Microscopy
Published on: April 16, 2019
Multiomics analysis identified IL-4-induced IL1RL1high eosinophils characterized by prominent cysteinyl leukotriene
Keeya Sunata1, Jun Miyata2, Yusuke Kawashima3
1Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Laboratory for Metabolomics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Kanagawa, Japan.
Background:
Clinical studies have demonstrated that IL-4, a type 2 cytokine, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis and eosinophilic asthma. However, the direct effect of IL-4 on eosinophils remains unclear.
Objective:
We aimed to elucidate the inflammatory effects of IL-4 on the functions of human eosinophils.
Methods:
A multiomics analysis comprising transcriptomics, proteomics, lipidomics, quantitative RT-PCR, and flow cytometry was performed by using blood eosinophils from healthy subjects stimulated with IL-4, IL-5, or a combination thereof.
Results:
Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed that both IL-4 and IL-5 upregulate the expression of γ-gultamyl transferase 5, a fatty acid-metabolizing enzyme that converts leukotriene C4 into leukotriene D4. In addition, IL-4 specifically upregulates the expression of IL-1 receptor-like 1 (IL1RL1), a receptor for IL-33 and transglutaminase-2. Additional transcriptomic analysis of cells stimulated with IL-13 revealed altered gene expression profiles, characterized by the upregulation of γ-gultamyl transferase 5, transglutaminase-2, and IL1RL1. The IL-13-induced changes were not totally different from the IL-4-induced changes. Lipidomic analysis revealed that IL-5 and IL-4 additively increased the extracellular release of leukotriene D4. In vitro experiments revealed that STAT6 and IL-4 receptor-α control the expression of these molecules in the presence of IL-4 and IL-13. Analysis of eosinophils derived from patients with allergic disorders indicated the involvement of IL-4 and IL-13 at the inflamed sites.
Conclusions:
IL-4 induces the proallergic phenotype of IL1RL1high eosinophils, with prominent cysteinyl leukotriene metabolism via STAT6. These cellular changes represent potential therapeutic targets for chronic rhinosinusitis and eosinophilic asthma.
