Airway Epithelium-derived CXCL14 Promotes Eosinophil Accumulation in Allergic Airway Inflammation

CXCL14 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 14) is expressed in the airway epithelial cells of patients with asthma. However, the mechanisms of CXCL14 secretion and its effects on asthma pathogenesis remain unclear. Here, we investigated the role of CXCL14 in allergic airway inflammation and its effects on eosinophil infiltration. Our findings showed that Alternaria alternata, a major environmental allergen, stimulated CXCL14 secretion from airway epithelial cells via reactive oxygen species generated in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation complexes, especially in oxidative phosphorylation complex II. In vivo, in a mouse model of allergic airway inflammation, intranasal administration of anti-CXCL14 antibody suppressed eosinophil and dendritic cell infiltration into the airways and goblet cell hyperplasia. In vitro, in human eosinophil-like cells, CXCL14 promoted cell migration through CXCR4 binding. Eosinophil CXCR4 expression was upregulated by Alternaria stimulation via reactive oxygen species production. These findings suggest that the cross-talk between Alternaria-stimulated airway epithelial CXCL14 secretion and eosinophil CXCR4 upregulation plays an important role in eosinophil infiltration into the lungs during allergic airway inflammation. In summary, this study demonstrates that CXCL14 could be a therapeutic target for allergic airway inflammation.