Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pleural mesothelial cells (PMCs) form the entire surface of the pleural cavity and interact with microorganisms in the thorax. Although PMCs are known to exert multiple immune functions, their role in pleurisy remains unclear. METHODS: Pleurisy model was induced by intrapleural injection of Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) into wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice. The pleural cavity was washed with Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) to get the immune cells. Flow cytometry was performed to identify the characteristics of the target cells. RESULTS: We found that IFN-γ prompts PMCs to act a summon role for the recruitment of inflammatory cells in pleurisy model. Our data showed that CD4(+) T cells were the main producer of IFN-γ in the pleurisy model, and IFN-γ stimulated PMCs to recruit immune cells into the pleural cavity through the CXCL10-CXCR3 axis. In addition, IFN-γ can reshape PMCs to display macrophage-like polarization. These results revealed some new immune roles of PMCs in pleurisy. CONCLUSION: In a mouse model of pleurisy, IFN-γ, which is mainly derived from CD4(+) T cells, promoted PMCs to recruit of immune cells into the pleural cavity and exhibited macrophage-like polarization.