MAP4K4 deficiency in CD4+ T cells aggravates lung damage induced by ozone-oxidized black carbon particles

This study aims to observe the effect of oBC on lung damage in mice and discuss how the functional MAP4K4 defect CD4+ T cells (conditional knockout of MAP4K4) presents its role in this process. In our study, MAP4K4 deletion in CD4+ T cells (MAP4K4 cKO) could increase cell number of macrophages, lymphocytes and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) exposed to oBC. MAP4K4 deletion in CD4+ T cell also affected CD4+ T cell differentiation in mediastinal lymph nodes after oBC stimulation. The number of CD4+ IL17+ T cell increased obviously. The levels of IL-6 mRNA of lung in MAP4K4 cKO mice was higher than that in wild type mice after exposed to oBC, while the level of IL-6 in BALF had the same trend. Histological examination showed that MAP4K4 deletion in CD4+ T cells affected lung inflammation induced by oBC. Results indicated that MAP4K4 cKO in CD4+ T cells upgraded the level of inflammation in lung when exposed to oBC, which may be connected to the CD4+ T cell differentiation and JNK, ERK and P38 pathways.
Source: Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology - Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research