Strongyloides stercoralis: eosinophil-dependent immune-mediated killing of third stage larvae in BALB/cByJ mice.

Challenge worm survival was significantly reduced when BALB/cByJ mice were vaccinated against Strongyloides stercoralis infective third stage larvae (L3) regardless of whether the challenge infections consisted of systemically migrating L3 or L3 implanted in diffusion chambers. The only cell type that increased in number in diffusion chambers in immunized mice, 1 week after booster immunizations, was the eosinophil, and maximal levels of eosinophils were coincident with parasite killing. Mice were treated with mAb to eliminate IL-5 or granulocytes to assess the role that eosinophils play in larval killing.

Cytokine production at the site of disease in chronic eosinophilic pneumonitis.

Chronic eosinophilic pneumonitis (CEP) is characterized by longstanding respiratory symptoms accompanied by a massive pulmonary eosinophil infiltration. We hypothesized that cytokine(s) produced in the disease sites are implicated in the pathophysiology of CEP. We studied peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) obtained from two lung segments of a patient with CEP.

Deposition of eosinophil granule proteins precedes blister formation in bullous pemphigoid. Comparison with neutrophil and mast cell granule proteins.

Eosinophils, neutrophils, and mast cells have all been implicated in the pathogenesis of bullous pemphigoid (BP). To comparatively characterize the involvement of these cells in BP, 10 lesional skin biopsy specimens were identified retrospectively and studied for tissue localization of eosinophil, neutrophil, and mast cell granule proteins. Subsequently, multiple skin biopsies of lesions in various developmental stages were obtained from 3 patients with untreated BP.

Tissue eosinophilia and eosinophil degranulation in Riedel's invasive fibrous thyroiditis.

The etiology of Riedel's invasive fibrous thyroiditis (IFT) has remained obscure. This rare disorder has been confused in the past with the more common fibrous variant of Hashimoto's disease. The typical histological features of IFT, in particular the presence of an invasive fibrosclerotic process in conjunction with a prominent chronic inflammatory infiltrate, suggest that the release of fibrogenic cytokines and other factors from these cellular infiltrates may play an important role in the pathogenesis of this condition.

Eosinophils in allergy: role in disease, degranulation, and cytokines.

For over 100 years, the eosinophil has been associated with allergic disease. At present, eosinophils appear to be associated pathologically with asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, eosinophilic gastroenteritis, and certain eye diseases. The effector functions of eosinophils appear to be derived primarily from release of lipid mediators and proteins, including cytokines and granule proteins.

Extracellular matrix proteins attenuate activation and degranulation of stimulated eosinophils.

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).

Mechanisms of smooth muscle contraction elicited by cationic proteins in guinea pig trachealis.

Cationic proteins elicit contraction of airway smooth muscle, but the mechanisms by which this occurs are not completely understood. We studied potential mechanisms by which eosinophil major basic protein (MBP) and the synthetic cationic proteins poly-L-lysine (PL) and poly-L-arginine (PA) cause contraction of isolated guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) in vivo. Topical application of 10(-8) mol/cm2 of each protein to an isolated tracheal segment elicited TSM contraction with potency PL > MBP > PA.

Analysis of signaling events associated with activation of neutrophil superoxide anion production by eosinophil granule major basic protein.

This study was undertaken to identify the signaling events involved in activation of neutrophil superoxide anion (O2-) production by eosinophil granule major basic protein (MBP). MBP did not produce an immediate increase in the cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), characteristic of phospholipase C activation, but did cause a gradual increase in [Ca2+]i in cytochalasin B-treated cells. Preincubation with 0.

Health maintenance and prevention in the elderly.

This article summarizes recommendations and current controversies to help guide primary care providers when caring for the elderly. Health maintenance and preventive care regimens are discussed within the context of a comprehensive evaluation of the particular patient.

Allergen challenge in asthma: association of eosinophils and lymphocytes with interleukin-5.

To test whether eosinophil recruitment after pulmonary allergen challenge is associated with interleukin (IL)-5 in patients with asthma, we performed segmental bronchoprovocation (SBP) with saline, and with low and high dosages of ragweed extract in six patients with allergic asthma. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of the challenged segments was performed 5 min after challenge (immediate BAL fluid) and repeated 24 h later (late BAL fluid). Allergen challenge resulted in recruitment of eosinophils, and increased levels of eosinophil-active cytokines.

Eosinophilic inflammation is associated with elevation of interleukin-5 in the airways of patients with spontaneous symptomatic asthma.

In vitro and in vivo studies have shown an important role for interleukin-5 (IL-5) in regulating eosinophil proliferation, survival, and effector function. Because eosinophilic inflammation is an important component of symptomatic episodes of asthma, we have investigated whether increased levels of IL-5 protein are present in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of patients with spontaneously symptomatic asthma (FEV1, l61% predicted; FEF25%-75%, 30% predicted) compared with patients with asymptomatic asthma (FEV1, 88% predicted; FEF25%-l75%, 76% predicted). The percent of BAL eosinophils (10.

Biotransformation of 3-(phenylamino)-1,2-propanediol to 3-(phenylamino)alanine: a chemical link between toxic oil syndrome and eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome.

During late 1989, the eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS) developed as an epidemic in the United States, with numerous additional cases reported in several other countries worldwide. Eight years earlier, a closely-related disease, the toxic oil syndrome (TOS), occurred in Spain as a massive food-borne epidemic. Although EMS was linked to the ingestion of tainted L-tryptophan, and TOS to aniline-denatured rapeseed oil, the etiologic agent(s) responsible for both diseases remains undetermined.

The identification and cloning of a murine major basic protein gene expressed in eosinophils.

The existence of a murine homologue of the major basic protein (MBP) found in human eosinophil granules was initially hypothesized from structural similarities at the electron microscopic level. The results presented in this study have extended these observations by describing the identification/purification of a mouse MBP (mMBP) and the cloning of the gene encoding this eosinophil granule protein. Using protein purification methodologies with extravascular eosinophils, an mMBP homologue has been identified on the basis of strong (64%) N-terminal sequence homology with the mature human MBP (hMBP).

A crucial role for beta 2 integrin in the activation of eosinophils stimulated by IgG.

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 beta 2 integrin, is an important step in cellular activation and accumulation. Therefore, we investigated the role of adhesion molecules in IgG-stimulated eosinophil functions.

IL-3, IL-5, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor potentiate basophil mediator release stimulated by eosinophil granule major basic protein.

We have examined the potential of IL-3, IL-5, and granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF to enhance basophil activation by eosinophil granule major basic protein (MBP). Preincubating basophil-containing mononuclear cells with 0.01 to 10 ng/ml IL-3 or IL-5 for 15 min at 37 degrees C caused a concentration-dependent enhancement of histamine release stimulated by 1.

Evidence for eosinophil activation in cancer patients receiving recombinant interleukin-4: effects of interleukin-4 alone and following interleukin-2 administration.

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a T-cell-derived cytokine that may mediate murine tumor rejection through the activation of host eosinophils. In association with a Phase I clinical trial of IL-4 in cancer patients, we have examined changes in eosinophil counts and characterized systemic eosinophil degranulation. As previously reported, IL-4 administration induced a modest eosinophilia in all 17 evaluated patients.

Elevated levels of eosinophil major basic protein in the sera of patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objective: To examine eosinophil activation, as reflected by evidence of eosinophil degranulation in the blood and affected tissues, in patients with diffuse and limited cutaneous forms of systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: Levels of the eosinophil-derived major basic protein (MBP), a marker of eosinophil degranulation, were determined in sera from 46 SSc patients, from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and giant cell arteritis, and from healthy volunteers, and in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 4 SSc patients. Extracellular tissue deposition of MBP was evaluated in biopsy specimens from affected skin or lung of 11 SSc patients.

Polyarginine and eosinophil-derived major basic protein increase microvascular permeability independently of histamine or nitric oxide release.

We tested the hypothesis that cationic peptides (polyarginine; poly-argn) and eosinophil-derived major basic protein (MaBP) increase permeability by stimulating the release of histamine and/or nitric oxide. We used intravital microscopy, clearance, and integrated optical intensity (IOI), using FITC-dextran 150 (FITC-dx 150) as a tracer, to evaluate changes in microvascular permeability in the hamster cheek pouch. Poly-argn at 1 microM (topical) increased the clearance of FITC-dx 150 from 610 to 3240 nl/60 min/g.

Identification of angiotensinogen and complement C3dg as novel proteins binding the proform of eosinophil major basic protein in human pregnancy serum and plasma.

In sera from pregnant women, pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) circulates as a disulfide-bound complex (approximately 474 kDa) with the proform of eosinophil major basic protein (proMBP) (Oxvig, C., Sand, O., Kristensen, T.

Eosinophil-active cytokine from mononuclear cells cultured with L-tryptophan products: an unexpected consequence of endotoxin contamination.

Background: The eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome, caused by a contaminant or contaminants in epidemiologically implicated L-tryptophan products, is characterized by eosinophilia and eosinophil degranulation. We hypothesized that immune cells are stimulated by implicated L-tryptophan and produce eosinophil-active cytokines.

Objectives: This study was designed to identify substances in L-tryptophan causing the eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome.

Allergen-specific IgG1 and IgG3 through Fc gamma RII induce eosinophil degranulation.

Evidence suggests that eosinophils contribute to inflammation in bronchial asthma by releasing chemical mediators and cytotoxic granule proteins. To investigate the mechanism of eosinophil degranulation in asthma, we established an in vitro model of allergen-induced degranulation. We treated tissue culture plates with short ragweed pollen (SRW) extract and sera from either normal donors or SRW-sensitive patients with asthma.

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.

Eosinophil-associated inflammation in bronchial asthma: a connection to the nervous system.

Evidence exists that eosinophil cationic proteins damage respiratory epithelium in bronchial asthma. Furthermore, the degree of eosinophilia in the blood and the lung is related to bronchial hyperreactivity. The eosinophil might increase airway irritability by increasing vagal responsiveness.

Eosinophil granule cationic proteins regulate the classical pathway of complement.

Major basic protein, the primary constituent of eosinophil granules, regulates the alternative and classical pathways of complement. Major basic protein and other eosinophil granule cationic proteins, which are important in mediating tissue damage in allergic disease, regulate the alternative pathway by interfering with C3b interaction with factor B to assemble an alternative pathway C3 convertase. In the present study, eosinophil peroxidase, eosinophil cationic protein and eosinophil-derived neurotoxin, as well as major basic protein, were examined for capacity to regulate the classical pathway.