Citations

Abstract An IgG-coated surface, such as found on parasites, is one of the most effective physiologic stimuli for eosinophil activation. Recent evidence suggests that cellular adhesion, especially that through the β 2 integrin, is an important step in cellular activation and accumulation. Therefore, we investigated the role of adhesion molecules in IgG-stimulated eosinophil functions. Cross-linking of eosinophil cytophilic IgG by anti-IgG immobilized to tissue culture plates induced degranulation, whereas soluble anti-IgG did not. Similarly, eosinophils exposed to human IgG immobilized to plates adhered and degranulated; in addition, adherence and subsequent degranulation were inhibited by mAbs to CD18 and CD11b, but not by mAb to CD29, suggesting an important role of β 2 integrin for these responses. Eosinophil degranulation induced by IgG covalently coupled to Sepharose 4B beads was also inhibited by mAb to CD18. Furthermore, fibrinogen, a ligand for CD11b/18, showed synergistic enhancement of IgG-induced degranulation when it was co-immobilized with IgG to plates. A morphologic study showed that eosinophils, stimulated by immobilized IgG, protrude numerous pseudopods; this morphologic change was inhibited by mAb to CD18. This cellular adhesion seems to affect the early signaling events in eosinophils because the production of inositol phosphates was abolished by mAb to CD18. Interestingly, although superoxide production by eosinophils triggered by immobilized IgG was inhibited by mAb to CD18, superoxide production and morphologic change of neutrophils were not. These results suggest that cell adhesion through CD11b/18 is a crucial step for the activation, signaling, and effector function of eosinophils stimulated by IgG.

Abstract Cellular adhesion plays an important role in the recruitment and activation of eosinophils. Here, we investigated whether extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins modify effector functions of activated human eosinophils. We coated 96-well plates with laminin or fibronectin and blocked nonspecific protein-binding sites with human serum albumin (HSA). When eosinophils were stimulated with platelet-activating factor (PAF) and incubated in these ECM-coated wells, the eosinophils adhered using both β 1- and β 2-integrins. Degranulation of eosinophils adherent to laminin- and fibronectin-coated wells was reduced about 50% compared with cells adherent to uncoated, HSA-blocked wells. Furthermore, these inhibitory effects of laminin and fibronectin were concentration-dependent and secretagogue-specific, that is, degranulation induced by C5a and IL-5 was inhibited while degranulation induced by secretory IgA and PMA was not inhibited. Plasma fibronectin, type I collagen and type IV collagen also inhibited PAF- and C5a-induced eosinophil degranulation, whereas fibrinogen did not. By microscopy, PAF-stimulated eosinophils, adhering to uncoated HSA-blocked wells, appeared elongated with many pseudopods. In contrast, eosinophils adhering to laminin-coated wells appeared oval with few pseudopods. Furthermore, when cells were incubated in laminin-coated wells, PAF-stimulated production of a second messenger, inositol phosphate, was markedly reduced. These findings suggest that ECM protein, such as laminin and fibronectin, attenuate both activation and degranulation of eosinophils and also influence their morphology after stimulation by physiologic secretagogues. Thus, ECM proteins may regulate activation of eosinophils, as they traverse between the peripheral blood and their targets.

Abstract Degranulation of eosinophils and release of toxic granule proteins play key roles in allergic diseases such as bronchial asthma. However, the intracellular signaling mechanisms that trigger eosinophil degranulation remain unclear. In this study, we investigated protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) involvement in the degranulation of human blood eosinophils induced by immobilized Ig. Eosinophils stimulated with Sepharose beads coated with secretory IgA (slgA) or IgG showed rapid increases in the tyrosine phosphorylation of intracellular proteins with molecular masses of 50 to 56, 73, 78, 100, and 105 kDa. The Ig-induced phosphorylation response was not affected by pertussis toxin, a known inhibitor of Ig-dependent eosinophil activation. The tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein and herbimycin A inhibited both the tyrosine phosphorylation and degranulation responses of eosinophils induced by sIgA- or IgG-coated beads. In contrast, eosinophil degranulation induced by PMA was not affected by genistein. Treatment of eosinophils with the protein phosphatase inhibitor pervanadate induced the phosphorylation of a similar set of intracellular proteins as well as cellular degranulation. Pervanadate also stimulated an increase in phosphoinositide hydrolysis, which was consistent with the activation of a phospholipase C-γ isoform by this stimulus. Genistein pretreatment blocked the Ig-induced phospholipase C activation, providing evidence for PTK involvement in this reaction. These findings indicate that a PTK-dependent signaling pathway plays an important role in triggering the degranulation responses of human eosinophils to immobilized sIgA and IgG.

Abstract To study the capacity and regulation of cytokine production by normal peripheral blood eosinophils, we isolated eosinophils from healthy individuals and stimulated them with immobilized Ig or TNF-α, with or without exogenous IL-5. By reverse transcription-PCR, uncultured, freshly isolated eosinophils constitutively expressed mRNA for IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-β1. Eosinophils stimulated by immobilized secretory IgA, immobilized IgA, immobilized IgG, or TNF-α for 3 h expressed mRNA encoding IL-3, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, granulocyte-macrophage CSF, TNF-α, TGF-β, and RANTES. The mRNA for IL-2, IL-5, or IFN-γ was not detected. IL-4 and IL-10 protein, but not IL-8, were measurable in lysates of fresh eosinophils or eosinophils cultured with medium alone for 24 h. Eosinophils incubated with immobilized Ig or TNF-α released IL-8 protein into the supernatants. In contrast, IL-4 and IL-10 proteins were not detectable. Soluble secretory IgA immune complexes also induced degranulation, as measured by eosinophil-derived neurotoxin, and IL-8 release, but not IL-4 or IL-10 release, from eosinophils. Release of IL-8 protein and storage of IL-4 and IL-10 proteins were enhanced by exogenous IL-5 and inhibited by a transcription inhibitor, actinomycin D. Degranulation of stored granule proteins was not affected by actinomycin D. Therefore, normal peripheral blood eosinophils can transcribe and synthesize several cytokines, including IL-4, IL-8, and IL-10; some are stored, and some are released. These cytokines may play important roles in modulating immune responses in diseases associated with eosinophils.

Abstract Eosinophils and their products are important in the pathophysiology of allergic inflammation in mucosal tissues. Secretory component bound to IgA mediates transepithelial transport of IgA and confers increased stability on the resultant secretory IgA; however, the effect of secretory component on the biologic activity of IgA is unknown. Here, we report that secretory IgA and secretory component preferentially activate human eosinophils. When eosinophils were stimulated with immobilized secretory IgA, degranulation and superoxide production were two- to threefold greater than when stimulated with serum IgA. In contrast, neutrophils responded similarly to secretory IgA and serum IgA. Flow cytometric analysis showed that eosinophils bound to purified secretory component. The binding of 125I-labeled secretory component was inhibited by unlabeled secretory component or secretory IgA but not by serum IgA. Superoxide production by eosinophils stimulated with cytokines or IgG was enhanced synergistically by immobilized secretory component; secretory component showed no effect on neutrophil activation. Finally, anti-CD18 mAb abolished eosinophil superoxide production stimulated with secretory IgA or secretory component but not with serum IgA, suggesting a crucial role for β2 integrins in eosinophil interactions with secretory IgA or secretory component. Thus, secretory component plays important roles in activating eosinophil functions but not neutrophil functions. This preferential interaction between secretory component and eosinophils may provide a novel mechanism to regulate mucosal tissue inflammation.

Abstract Stimulation of human normodense eosinophils with immobilized secretory IgA (sIgA) or IgG, or with the soluble stimulus, FMLP, triggers the exocytotic release of the granule protein, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN). In this report, we demonstrate that these stimuli also provoke an increase in phospholipase C-mediated phosphoinositide breakdown in eosinophils. Pretreatment of eosinophils with pertussis toxin (PTX) for 2 h irreversibly abolished the increases in phospholipase C activity and EDN release induced by immobilized sIgA or FMLP. In contrast, PTX treatment only transiently inhibited eosinophil activation induced by immobilized IgG. Maximal inhibition of IgG-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis and EDN release occurred after 2 h of PTX pretreatment with PTX, followed by a gradual recovery of cellular responsiveness to immobilized IgG as the duration of PTX pretreatment was extended to 16 h. Activated PTX catalyzed the in vitro ADP-ribosylation of 41- and 44-kDa proteins in eosinophil membranes. A 2-h pretreatment of intact cells with PTX markedly reduced the pools of unmodified 41- and 44-kDa substrates available for subsequent ADP-ribosylation in vitro, suggesting that both proteins were substrates for PTX in intact eosinophils. Continuous exposure of eosinophils to PTX for times ranging from 2 to 15 h resulted in the gradual reappearance of unmodified 44-kDa protein, whereas the levels of unmodified 41-kDa protein were persistently reduced in PTX-treated cells. The time course of the decline and reappearance of unmodified 44-kDa substrate in PTX-treated eosinophils closely paralleled the changes in the responsiveness of these cells to immobilized IgG. These results suggest that the receptors for sIgA, FMLP, or IgG transduce activating signals for eosinophil degranulation through differential coupling to at least two PTX-sensitive G proteins.

Abstract Glucocorticoids characteristically induce eosinopenia in vivo and are effective for treating allergic and other eosinophilic disorders. We studied the effect of glucocorticoids on cytokine-induced survival of human eosinophils in vitro. Eosinophils were purified from normal or mildly atopic volunteers by Percoll density gradient and incubated for 4 days in the presence of cytokine plus steroid. Cell viabilities were determined by staining cells with fluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide. In the absence of glucocorticoids, human rIL-5 enhanced eosinophil survival in a dose-dependent manner, from 22 fM for a minimal effect to 2200 fM for maximal effect. When eosinophils were cultured with a submaximal concentration of rIL-5 (220 fM), dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, and hydrocortisone inhibited eosinophil survival in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition was time-dependent and required at least 2 days’ exposure of eosinophils to dexamethasone. Dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, and hydrocortisone at 1000 nM inhibited survival by 88 +/- 2, 66 +/- 9 and 37 +/- 7%. In contrast, estradiol and testosterone (1000 nM) had no effect on eosinophil survival. When eosinophils were incubated with varying concentrations of human rIL-5 and 1000 nM dexamethasone, survival inhibition was reduced at higher concentrations of human rIL-5, and completely abolished by human rIL-5 23,000 fM. Human recombinant granulocyte-macrophage CSF, human rIL-3, and human rIFN-γ also enhanced eosinophil survival in a dose-dependent manner and dexamethasone (1000 nM) strongly inhibited cell survival when submaximal concentrations of these cytokines were used. The effects of dexamethasone were reversed by higher concentrations of granulocyte-macrophage CSF (10 U/ml) and IL-3 (3 ng/ml). However, even 1000 U/ml IFN-γ did not overcome dexamethasone inhibition, indicating a difference between the mechanism of eosinophil survival induced by IFN-γ and other cytokines. These results suggest that glucocorticoids exert a direct, inhibitory effect on eosinophil survival, which may be important in the treatment of allergic and other eosinophilic disorders. Antagonism of this effect by higher amounts of cytokine may be a mechanism for glucocorticoid resistance.

Abstract Eosinophil granule proteins, such as major basic protein (MBP), eosinophil peroxidase (EPO), and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), possess a wide range of biologic activities including the ability to activate other cells, such as basophils, neutrophils, and platelets. Here we have analyzed the effects of these proteins on eosinophils themselves. MBP and EPO, at concentrations as low as 0.1 micrograms/ml, induced eosinophil degranulation as measured by release of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN); in contrast, ECP, at 1 micrograms/ml, was inactive. MBP (10 micrograms/ml) and EPO (0.1 micrograms/ml) induced EDN release comparable with one of the strongest agonists for eosinophils, secretory IgA. Pretreatment of cells with dibutyryl cAMP or cytochalasin B completely abolished the EDN release induced by MBP and EPO, suggesting that the effects of MBP and EPO are not due to cytotoxic lysis of the cells. Degranulation induced by MBP was only partially dependent on calcium, and no elevation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was observed in eosinophils stimulated with MBP. MBP stimulated the production, up to eightfold, of IL-8 by eosinophils in a dose-dependent manner. The MBP-stimulated expression of IL-8 mRNA by eosinophils was confirmed by reverse transcription-PCR. The MBP-stimulated production of IL-8 was inhibited by actinomycin D, but not by cyclosporin A. Furthermore, MBP and calcium ionophore ionomycin synergistically induced production of leukotriene C4 from eosinophils. Thus, MBP and EPO may act as autocrine mediators in the pathogenesis of eosinophil-associated diseases, such as bronchial asthma.

Abstract Recent evidence suggests adhesion molecules play an important role in the function of leukocytes. Because human eosinophils are known to express beta 2 integrins, we hypothesized that these adhesion molecules mediate the effector function of eosinophils. Normal human eosinophils incubated in albumin-coated polystyrene plates released granule protein and produced superoxide anion when stimulated with human recombinant granulocyte-macrophage CSF (rGM-CSF), platelet-activating factor (PAF), or PMA. Simultaneous monitoring of eosinophil adhesion and degranulation showed that degranulation was always preceded by cellular adhesion regardless of stimuli. Furthermore, eosinophil degranulation induced by human rGM-CSF and PAF was abolished in suspension culture of the cells when the cell suspensions were gently stirred. To identify the molecules involved in this adhesion-dependent degranulation, we have investigated the effects of mAbs (mAb) against beta 2 integrins. mAb reactive with CD18 markedly inhibited the eosinophil adhesion and degranulation induced by PAF and human rGM-CSF. mAb reactive with CD11b also moderately inhibited the adhesion and degranulation. In contrast, mAb reactive with CD11a slightly enhanced or showed no effect on the adhesion and degranulation by human rGM-CSF or PAF. Superoxide production induced by human rGM-CSF and PAF was also abolished by the treatment of cells with anti-CD18 mAb. mAb against CD11b and CD18 had little effect on degranulation and superoxide production induced by PMA. These results indicate that CD11b/CD18 (Mac-1)-dependent cellular adhesion plays an important role in the degranulation and superoxide production of eosinophils induced by human rGM-CSF and PAF, and that these mechanisms may be employed in vivo where eosinophils contact with stromal cells and/or proteins.

Abstract We tested the effects of different cytokines on IgA- and IgG-induced eosinophil degranulation in vitro to determine the potential interaction between eosinophils and mononuclear cells. Purified normodense eosinophils were incubated with cytokines (including rIL-1, rIL-2, rIL-3, rIL-4, rIL-5, rIL-6, IFN-gamma, granulocyte-macrophage CSF stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and TNF) for 1 to 3 h after which Ig-coupled Sepharose 4B beads were added as targets and the mixtures were incubated with the eosinophils at 37 degrees C for 4 h. The Ig used were secretory IgA (sIgA), serum IgA and IgG, and myeloma IgA and IgG. The release of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) was measured by RIA as an index of degranulation. rIL-5 was the most potent enhancer of Ig-induced degranulation and increased EDN release by 48% for sIgA and 136% for IgG. The effect of rIL-5 appeared as quickly as 15 min after incubation of eosinophils, sIgA beads and IL-5. GM-CSF and rIL-3 also enhanced Ig-induced EDN release but less potently than rIL-5. GM-CSF and rIL-5 by themselves induced a small but significant release of EDN from eosinophils in the absence of Ig-coated beads; rIL-3 did not. However, IFN-gamma suppressed sIgA-induced EDN release by 23%. The other cytokines did not have any effect on eosinophil degranulation. These results suggest that cytokines which induce eosinophil differentiation and proliferation during hematopoiesis also enhance the effector function of mature eosinophils and that IFN-gamma partially down-regulates eosinophil degranulation.