Eosinophil-derived Neurotoxin Release Research Articles

Novel co-operation between eotaxin and substance-P in inducing eosinophil-derived neurotoxin release.

Eosinophils, chemokines, and neuropeptides are thought to play effector roles in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases such as rhinitis. Eotaxin is a novel C-C chemokine with a potent and relatively specific eosinophil chemoattractant activity that binds selectively to CCR3 receptor, however, its activity in inducing eosinophil granules proteins release is poorly characterized. This study was performed to determine whether eotaxin primes eosinophil exocytosis and whether this co-operates with the sensory neuroimmune-axis. In the present communication, we show that 10 ng/ml eotaxin primed normal human eosinophil for exaggerated eosonophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) release stimulated by 10(-8) M Substance-P (SP). This novel priming was blocked by; 7B11 and Herbimycin A (HA), the CCR3 antagonist and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, respectively. SDS-Page studies showed significant tyrosine phosphorylation of several protein residues induced by 10(-8) M SP only after priming with 10 ng/ml eotaxin. These results demonstrate a novel co-operation between eotaxin and SP in inducing eosinophil cytotoxicity, which at least in part involves tyrosine kinases pathway(s).

Human Eotaxin Induces Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin Release from Normal Human Eosinophils

Background: Eosinophil granule proteins deposition at the site of allergic inflammation contributes to the late-phase reaction of hypersensitivity diseases. In the present communication, we describe the effect of human eotaxin on normal human eosinophil exocytosis measured as degranulation of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN). Methods: Purified eosinophils were obtained from normal healthy volunteers with the CD16-negative procedure. Purified eosinophils were stimulated with various concentrations of eotaxin and the amount of EDN released was analysed by radioimmunoassay. Flow cytometry was used to examine the surface expression of adhesion molecules on eosinophils. Results: Eotaxin significantly induced EDN release in a dose-dependent manner. The potency of eotaxin in this effect was equal to that of RANTES, and comparable to that of platelet-activating factor. Eotaxin-induced EDN release was blocked by cytochalasin B in a dose-dependent manner. The surface expression of CD11a, CD11b, CD18 and VLA-4 adhesion molecules on normal human eosinophils were not modulated by eotaxin stimulation. Conclusions: These results indicate that eotaxin may play an important role not only as a selective chemotaxin for the cell type but also as a secretagogue. Furthermore, they demonstrate a degranulation mechanism(s) involving cytoskeletal changes which is probably independent of the quantitative expression of adhesion molecules.

Mechanisms Involved in Activation of Human Eosinophil Exocytosis by Substance P: An in Vitro Model of Sensory Neuroimmunomodulation

Substance P (SP), a tachykinin with a wide range of biological activities including a priming effect on human eosinophil chemotaxis, was investigated for its influence on eosinophil cytotoxic function measured as degranulation of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN). Peripheral blood was obtained from healthy volunteers and the degranulation assays were performed using radioimmunoassay (RIA). SP and its C-terminal elicited EDN release in a time-dependent mode at a narrow range of doses with optimal activity of 10−6M. FK888 (NK-1 receptor antagonist) inhibited EDN release stimulated by SP in dose dependency, also a complete inhibition was observed when eosinophils were preincubated with 1000ng/ml pertussis toxin (PTX). Pre-exposure of eosinophils to staurosporine resulted in blockage of SP-induced EDN release in a dose-dependent mode. On the other hand, SP at 10−7M and 10−8M primed eosinophils to suboptimal dose (10−8M) of Platelet activating factor (PAF) resulting into significant enhancement of EDN release. SP(4–11) fragment showed a similar activity while SP(1–4) fragment was not active. SP priming of eosinophils was not affected by Ca2+ depletion, however, it caused a change in the pattern of the intracellular calcium influx against the suboptimal dose of PAF. These results suggest that SP i) may induce human eosinophil matrix protein degranulation through a receptor mediated mechanism coupled to PTX sensitive G protein(s) with the probability of linkage to phospholipase C activation, and, ii) primes human eosinophils for an exalted inflammatory response through a Ca2+ independent pathway.

Production of IL-8 and release of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin by normal peripheral blood eosinophils.

To study the regulation of IL-8 production and release of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) by normal blood eosinophils, we isolated eosinophils from healthy individuals and stimulated them with immobilized secretory IgA with or without exogenous IL-5 for 3, 12, and 24 h, and with different concentrations of ionomycin for 24 h. Eosinophils cultured with secretory IgA for 3 and 12 h showed strong expression of mRNA for IL-8 by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Exogenous IL-5 enhanced mRNA for IL-8 expression by eosinophils after 24 h of incubation. IL-8 secretion increased in a time-dependent manner throughout the 24 h of observation; in contrast, EDN release reached a plateau value after 12 h. Furthermore, at least 2 microM ionomycin was necessary for induction of IL-8 secretion, whereas 0.5 microM induced detectable EDN release by eosinophils. These results suggest that the mechanism of eosinophil degranulation may be different from those of cytokine secretion.

Cytokines directly induce degranulation and superoxide production from human eosinophils

BACKGROUND: Cytokines are implicated in allergic diseases and can modulate effector functions of eosinophils stimulated by another agonist. However, little is known about the capacity of cytokines to directly trigger eosinophil degranulation. OBJECTIVES: We attempted to determine whether cytokines can directly induce degranulation and superoxide production from eosinophils. METHODS: Eosinophils from normal donors were incubated with various cytokines in albumin-coated tissue culture plates for 4 hours. To quantitate degranulation, the amounts of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin in supernatants were measured by radioimmunoassay. In addition, superoxide production was measured by superoxide dismutase–inhibitable reduction of cytochrome c. RESULTS: IL-5, IL-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, tumor necrosis factor-α, and RANTES all induced eosinophil degranulation. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor was the most potent and induced eosinophil-derived neurotoxin release comparable to that induced by secretory IgA beads, one of the most potent secretagogues for eosinophils. In addition, IL-5 and tumor necrosis factor-α were synergistic in their induction of eosinophil degranulation. In contrast, IL-1, IL-8, interferon-γ, and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α did not induce degranulation. Finally, IL-5, IL-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and tumor necrosis factor-α, but not RANTES, also induced superoxide production from eosinophils. CONCLUSIONS: Certain cytokines directly induce eosinophil degranulation and superoxide production in vitro. Therefore these cytokines may be important in the release of toxic granule proteins from eosinophils in allergic diseases. (J A LLERGY C LIN I MMUNOL 1996;98:371-81.)

Analysis of recombinant human tumour necrosis factor‐α‐induced CD4 expression on human eosinophils

We examined the hypothesis that one of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), could induce expression of the adhesion molecule CD4 on human eosinophils. We further examined the effector function of CD4 and the mechanisms regulating CD4 expression. Human eosinophils were cultured with various concentrations of recombinant human TNF-alpha (rhTNF-alpha) with or without various drugs for 24 hr. After culture, eosinophils were stained for CD4 using a monoclonal antibody and then analysed by flow cytometry. Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) release as eosinophil degranulation was examined by cross-linking of CD4 on eosinophils. The rhTNF-alpha induced CD4 expression on human eosinophils in a dose- and time-dependent fashion; rhTNF-alpha-induced CD4 expression was significantly inhibited by 10(-6) M cycloheximide, 10(-8) M dexamethasone, or 10(-6) M herbimycin A. Recombinant human interferon-gamma inhibited rhTNF-alpha-induced CD4 expression in a dose-dependent manner. However, cross-linking of CD4 on eosinophils did not evoke EDN release, suggesting that newly expressed CD4 molecules on human eosinophils do not play any role in triggering degranulation. Our data indicate that TNF-alpha-induced CD4 expression on human eosinophils is dependent on protein synthesis and may be dependent on tyrosine kinase activity.

Eosinophil major basic protein induces degranulation and IL-8 production by human eosinophils.

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.

Role of pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins in stimulus-dependent human eosinophil degranulation.

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.

Regulation of Ig-induced eosinophil degranulation by adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate.

We have investigated the effects of cAMP on Ig-induced human eosinophil activation. Stimulation of human normodense eosinophils with IgG- or secretory IgA (sIgA)-coated Sepharose beads induced cellular degranulation, as measured by the release of the granule protein, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN). Pretreatment with cAMP analogs (N6,O2,-dibutyryl adenosine-3,':5' cyclic monophosphate; 8-bromoadenosine 3':5' cyclic monophosphate; or N6-benzoyladenosine 3':5' cyclic monophosphate) or cAMP phosphodiesterase-inhibitors (theophylline or isobutylmethyl xanthine (IBMX] strongly inhibited Ig-induced human eosinophil degranulation. The beta-adrenoceptor agonists, isoproterenol and salbutamol, induced relatively low level increases in intracellular cAMP, and weakly suppressed EDN release induced by IgG-coated beads. However, cellular pretreatment with IBMX synergistically enhanced the inhibitory effects of isoproterenol or salbutamol on both IgG and sIgA-induced eosinophil degranulation. Similarly, PGE2 treatment increased intracellular cAMP concentrations in eosinophils and correspondingly inhibited the Ig-dependent cellular degranulation response: co-incubation with IBMX further enhanced both effects of PGE2. Finally, cholera toxin, which irreversibly activates the stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding protein linked to adenylyl cyclase, strongly inhibited the release of EDN from IgG- or sIgA-stimulated eosinophils. The time-dependent accumulation of cAMP in cholera toxin-treated cells closely paralleled the time courses of inhibition of IgG- and sIgA-induced EDN release after toxin exposure. These data indicate that the cAMP-dependent signal transduction mechanism in eosinophils exerts a negative modulatory effect on the cellular degranulation responses induced by sIgA or IgG. The inhibitory effects of cAMP on eosinophil activation may provide an important physiologic and a clinically relevant therapeutic mechanism for limiting the release of eosinophil-derived cytotoxic proteins during certain allergic or inflammatory responses in vivo.

Effect of steroids on immunoglobulin-induced eosinophil degranulation

Because glucocorticoids are a mainstay in the treatment of asthma and other allergic diseases, we tested the effect of various steroid hormones on secretory IgA- and IgG-induced eosinophil degranulation in vitro. Human normodense eosinophils were purified by discontinuous Percoll density gradient, and hypodense eosinophils were obtained by culture of normodense cells with recombinant human interleukin (rIL)-5. Eosinophils were incubated with various steroids, including dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, estradiol, or dihydrotestosterone at concentrations from 10 −9 to 10 −4 mol/L. Sepharose 4B beads coupled to ovalbumin, secretory IgA, or IgG were added as targets of degranulation and incubated at 37 ° C for 4 hours. In some experiments, rIL-5 was added to eosinophils before addition of beads to activate the cells. The release of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin was measured by radioimmunoassay as an index of degranulation. Dexamethasone (10 −9 to 10 −4 mol/L), hydrocortisone (10 −9 to 10 −4 mol/L), estradiol (10 −9 to 10 −7 mol/L), and dihydrotestosterone (10 −9 to 10 −4 mol/L) had no effect on normodense eosinophil degranulation. Methylprednisolone, 10 −5 mol/L, inhibited degranulation of normodense eosinophils up to 20%, whereas 10 −4 mol/L inhibited degranulation of hypodense eosinophils, up to 30%, Overall, no difference in inhibition by steroids was observed between normodense and hypodense eosinophils. rIL-5 enhanced immunoglobulin-induced eosinophil degranulation, but this effect of rIL-5 was not blocked by any of the steroids tested. These results suggest that eosinophil degranulation and rIL-5-mediated eosinophil activation are not direct targets of glucocorticoids and that the beneficial effects of glucocorticoids on allergic inflammation in vivo are not likely due to direct effects on eosinophil degranulation.

Regulatory effect of cytokines on eosinophil degranulation.

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.

Calcium ionophore A23187 calcium-dependent cytolytic degranulation in human eosinophils.

The divalent cation ionophore A23187 is frequently used for studies of eosinophil degranulation. Nonetheless, the mechanism whereby A23187 induces degranulation in human eosinophils is still unclear. In the present experiments, A23187 caused human eosinophils to release a granule protein, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) and a membrane-associated protein, Charcot-Leyden crystal (CLC) protein in a calcium and a concentration-dependent manner. However, A23187 at a concentration (1 microgram/ml) that caused 15% EDN release and 30% CLC protein release also produced release of the cytoplasmic enzyme lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and loss of cell viability, both of which were calcium dependent. CLC protein release preceded EDN release and was detectable even at 15 min after the addition of 1 microgram/ml A23187, whereas EDN release occurred after a lag period of 30 min, and coincided with LDH release. At 1 microgram/ml A23187, neither the release of LDH nor the loss of viability occurred with purified neutrophils obtained in the same blood sample as a by-product of eosinophil purification. Electron microscopic examination demonstrated that exposure to A23187 for 15 min resulted in an increase and elongation of microridges on the cell surface, and exposure for 45 min caused cell disruption followed by extrusion of membrane-bound granules through breaks in the plasma membrane. Only once was granule exocytosis observed. These results indicate that A23187 treatment of eosinophils causes an initial release of membrane-associated CLC protein by a noncytolytic mechanism, and causes degranulation as a result of eosinophil lysis.