Eosinophil priming by cytokines: from cellular signal to in vivo modulation.

Eosinophils play an important role in the effector phase of allergic inflammation. This review will focus on the conversion of the unprimed eosinophil phenotype in the peripheral blood of normal individuals to the primed phenotype found in the peripheral blood and tissues of allergic patients, a phenomenon called priming. Recent data on the signals initiated after cytokine receptor activation on eosinophils will be reviewed.

Mechanisms involved in eosinophil migration. Platelet-activating factor-induced chemotaxis and interleukin-5-induced chemokinesis are mediated by different signals.

Eosinophils play an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases such as allergic asthma. Eosinophil migration in vitro can be divided into directed migration, or chemotaxis, and random migration, or chemokinesis. Here, we studied intracellular signals involved in eosinophil migration in vitro induced by platelet-activating factor (PAF) and interleukin-5 (IL-5), applying a Boyden chamber assay.

Effects of nedocromil sodium on in vitro induced migration, activation, and mediator release from human granulocytes.

Using the allergen-induced late-phase asthmatic reaction as a working model, we studied the activity of certain inflammatory cells and their reaction to nedocromil sodium. The processes that were examined in vitro included the following: the chemotaxis of purified neutrophils and eosinophils, the early steps of neutrophil and eosinophil activation, and the release of mediators from these cells. Nedocromil sodium strongly inhibited neutrophil mobilization caused by four chemotactic factors (zymosan activated serum, N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine platelet-activating factor [PAF], and leukotriene B4 [LTB4] and eosinophil mobilization caused by two factors (PAF and LTB4).

Upregulation of formyl-peptide and interleukin-8-induced eosinophil chemotaxis in patients with allergic asthma.

Background: The cytokine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factors, interleukin-3 and interleukin-5, are important modulators of eosinophilia and eosinophil function. In particular, eosinophil chemotaxis is very sensitive to cytokine priming.

Methods: We evaluated chemotactic responses of eosinophils from patients with allergic asthma.

The involvement of eosinophils in the patch test reaction to aeroallergens in atopic dermatitis: its relevance for the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is considered a T-cell mediated disease. Activated T-cells, mainly of the CD4-subtype, are abundantly present in lesional AD skin. Although not many intact eosinophils are present, deposits of eosinophil derived major-basic-protein (MBP) and eosinophil-cationic-protein (ECP) suggest eosinophil involvement.

Eosinophil migration in atopic dermatitis. I: Increased migratory responses to N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, neutrophil-activating factor, platelet-activating factor, and platelet factor 4.

Eosinophil granular protein deposits have been demonstrated in lesional atopic dermatitis skin. This suggests active tissue infiltration of eosinophils. To find an explanation for the tissue influx of eosinophils, eosinophil migration was studied in vitro by means of a microchemotaxis assay.

Modulation of eosinophil chemotaxis by interleukin-5.

Eosinophilia and eosinophil function are regulated by cytokines such as granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-3 (IL-3), and interleukin-5 (IL-5). We have investigated the modulatory role of IL-5 on N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), neutrophil-activating factor (NAF/IL-8), platelet factor 4 (PF4), and cytokine-induced chemotaxis of eosinophils from normal individuals. These eosinophils show a small chemotactic response toward PF4 but not to NAF/IL-8 and FMLP.

In vivo priming of platelet-activating factor-induced eosinophil chemotaxis in allergic asthmatic individuals.

The cytokines granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin (IL)-3, and IL-5 are important modulators of eosinophilia and eosinophil function. Eosinophil chemotaxis is known to be particularly sensitive for cytokine priming. In the present study, we compared chemotactic responses of eosinophils derived from peripheral blood of allergic asthmatics to responses of eosinophils from peripheral blood of healthy individuals.

Early activation or "priming" of eosinophils in asthma.

Increased numbers of blood and tissue eosinophils are regularly observed in subjects suffering from bronchial asthma. The eosinophil number in the diseased organ is normally closely associated with the presence of clinical symptoms. Not only the cell number, but also the concentration of eosinophil-granule derived mediators is increased in the diseased organ.

Modulation and induction of eosinophil chemotaxis by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-3.

Eosinophilia and eosinophil function are regulated by cytokines such as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-3 (IL-3), and IL-5. We have investigated the modulatory role of GM-CSF and IL-3 on the platelet-activating factor (PAF)-, neutrophil-activating factor (NAF/IL-8)-, leukotriene B4 (LTB4)-, N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP)-, and human complement factor C5a-induced chemotaxis of eosinophils from normal individuals. These eosinophils show a chemotactic response toward PAF, LTB4, and C5a, but not to NAF/IL-8 and FMLP.

Inhibition of neutrophil and eosinophil induced chemotaxis by nedocromil sodium and sodium cromoglycate.

1. Neutrophils and eosinophils infiltrate the airways in association with the allergen-induced late phase asthmatic reaction. Mobilization of these cells takes place via lipid-like and protein-like chemotactic factors.

Popliteal lymph node enlargement and antibody production in the mouse induced by zimeldine and related compounds with varying side chains.

Structural requirements for induction of draining lymph node responses by the antidepressant drug zimeldine ((Z)-3-(4-bromophenyl)-N,N-dimethyl-3-(3-pyridyl)allylamine) in mice were determined by comparison of its activity with that of metabolites and analogues having different side chains. Mice received 1.0 mg of the compounds into the hind footpad and the popliteal lymph nodes (PLN) were removed 7 days later to determine weight, cell number and antibody production.

Inhibition of platelet-activating factor- and zymosan-activated serum-induced chemotaxis of human neutrophils by nedocromil sodium, BN 52021 and sodium cromoglycate.

1. Inflammatory cells such as eosinophils and neutrophils are thought to contribute actively to the pathogenesis of asthma since they infiltrate into the lung tissue. These cells are mobilized by lipid-like and protein-like chemotactic factors.

Inhibitory effects of nedocromil sodium on the in vitro induced migration and leukotriene formation of human granulocytes.

Inflammatory cells, such as neutrophils and eosinophils, are thought to actively contribute to the pathogenesis of asthma since they infiltrate into the lung tissue and may be activated locally to release bronchoconstrictor mediators. In this study we provide evidence that nedocromil sodium is capable of effectively inhibiting the platelet-activating factor (PAF) and zymosan-activated serum (ZAS)-induced chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMN) [IC50 approximately 1 nmol/L and 0.1 mumol/L respectively].

Vulnerability of rat and mouse brain cells to murine hepatitis virus (JHM-strain): studies in vivo and in vitro.

The pathogenicity and cell tropism of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV-JHM-strain) in the developing mouse (Balb/c) and rat (Wistar and Lewis) brain were analysed. Intracranial infection of Balb/c mice at postnatal day 5 induced a lethal encephalitis in all animals. Of Wistar rats infected at day 2 or 5 after birth, 30 to 70%, respectively, survived.

Cellular location of glutamine synthetase and lactate dehydrogenase in oligodendrocyte-enriched cultures from rat brain.

Glial cells were isolated from 1-week-old rat brain and cultured in a serum-free medium supplemented with the hormones insulin, hydrocortisone, and triiodothyronine. After 1 week in culture the cell population consisted mainly of galactocerebroside-positive cells (GC+; oligodendrocytes), the remainder of the cells being positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP+; astrocytes). Oligodendrocytes were selectively removed from the cultures by complement-mediated cytolysis.

Hydrocortisone stimulates the development of oligodendrocytes in primary glial cultures and affects glucose metabolism and lipid synthesis in these cultures.

Cultures of glial cells were prepared from the brains of one-week-old rat pups. After one day in culture, serum was omitted from the medium and replaced by a combination of growth-stimulating hormones and other factors that enhanced the percentage of oligodendrocytes in the cultures. We investigated the effects of hydrocortisone on the development of oligodendrocytes, on the activities of oligodendrocyte-specific enzymes and on glucose- and lipid-metabolism of the glial cells.