PD-L2 modulates asthma severity by directly decreasing dendritic cell IL-12 production

Studies examining the role of PD-L2/PD-1 in asthma have yielded conflicting results. To clarify its role, we examined PD-L2 expression in biopsies from human asthmatics and lungs of aeroallergen-treated mice. PD-L2 expression in bronchial biopsies correlated with the severity of asthma. In mice, allergen exposure increased PD-L2 expression on pulmonary myeloid dendritic cells, and PD-L2 blockade diminished allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). In contrast, PD-1 blockade had no impact, suggesting that PD-L2 promotes AHR in a PD-1-independent manner. Decreased AHR was associated with enhanced serum IL-12 p40 and in vitro stimulation of DCs with allergen and PD-L2-Fc reduced IL-12 p70 production, suggesting that PD-L2 inhibits allergen-driven IL-12 production. In our model, IL-12 did not diminish Th2 responses, but rather directly antagonized IL-13-inducible gene expression, highlighting a novel role for IL-12 in regulation of IL-13 signaling. Thus, allergen-driven enhancement of PD-L2 signaling through a PD-1-independent mechanism limits IL-12 secretion, exacerbating AHR.