OX40L induces helper T cell differentiation during cell immunity of asthma through PI3K/AKT and P38 MAPK signaling pathway

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of OX40L in regulating helper T (Th) cells differentiation through phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo experiments. METHODS: Serum samples of patients with asthma and healthy controls were used to explore the association between OX40L and Th cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the serum concentrations of OX40L, IL-4, IFN-γ, IL-17 and TGF-β. Flow cytometry method was used to analyze Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg cells. 3H-thymidine was used to determine the proliferation of T cells. Western Blot was used to detect protein expression and phosphorylation. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of OX40L in lung tissues. RESULTS: OX40L, IL-4, IL-17 increased in patient serum compared to healthy control and in the ovalbumin (OVA)-primed mononuclear cells compared to normal cells, while IFN-γ and TGF-β were decreased. Besides, the OVA-primed CD4(+) T cells treated with OX40L-Ig fusion protein promoted the proliferation of T cells and Th2 and Th17 cells differentiation as well as PI3K/AKT and p38 MAPK signaling pathway, but suppressed Th1 and Treg cells differentiation. Moreover, helper T cells differentiation in OVA-primed CD4(+) T cells could be markedly reversed by the addition of PI3K/AKT inhibition, p38 MAPK inhibition and anti-OX40L monoclonal antibody. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we revealed that OX40L could regulate differentiation of helper T cells via PI3K/AKT and p38 MAPK signaling pathway in asthma. Besides, blockade of OX40/OX40L could inhibit the proliferation of CD4(+) T cells and regulate polarization of helper T cells. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s12967-018-1436-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.