Improved purification of 12-lipoxygenase from rat basophilic leukemia cells and conditions for optimal enzyme activity.

12-Lipoxygenase from rat basophilic leukemia cells was purified about 300-fold by protein-HPLC in a single run. Maximal 12-lipoxygenase activity was observed at pH 7.5, while the enzyme became almost inactive at pH 6 and 9. Although Ca2+ was not essential for 12-lipoxygenase activity, the partially purified enzyme was stimulated approx. 2-fold in the presence of 0.1-5.0 mM Ca2+. Contrary to 5-lipoxygenase from RBL-1 cells, 12-lipoxygenase was not inactivated by preincubation with Ca2+ for 1-10 min, nor was it stimulated by 0.1-10 mM ATP.

IL-4 induces chemotaxis of blood eosinophils from atopic dermatitis patients, but not from normal individuals.

T lymphocytes present in allergically inflamed tissue synthesize and secrete the cytokines interleukin (IL)-3, IL-4, IL-5, and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). IL-3, IL-5, and GM-CSF, but also IL-4, may act as a chemotaxin on eosinophils. In contrast to the former cytokines, IL-4 is only chemotactic for eosinophils from the peripheral blood of patients with atopic dermatitis and not for eosinophils from normal individuals. IL-4 has the same chemotactic potency as the other cytokines. The optimal chemotactic potency is reached at a concentration of 10 nM. In contrast, neutrophils do not respond chemotactically to IL-4. Checkerboard analysis, inhibition studies with monoclonal anti-IL-4 antibodies, and desensitization experiments indicated specific interaction of IL-4 with eosinophils. In eosinophils from normal individuals, IL-4 responsiveness could be induced by pretreatment of the cells with IL-5 and GM-CSF. In addition to the fact that IL-4 may be responsible for selective eosinophil transendothelial migration, IL-4 may exert an important modulatory mode of action on eosinophil migration and function within allergically inflamed tissue. Our findings suggest the presence of a functional IL-4R on eosinophils from atopic dermatitis patients.

Human eosinophils constitutively express a functional interleukin-4 receptor: interleukin-4 -induced priming of chemotactic responses and induction of PI-3 kinase activity.

Similar to interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-5, and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), IL-4 can be secreted by several cell types involved in allergic inflammatory reactions, and therefore can affect eosinophil function similarly. In this study, we investigated the presence of an IL-4 receptor (IL-4R) on human eosinophils. When two different monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the IL-4R alpha-chain (IL-4Ralpha) were used, fluorescent-activated cell sorter analysis revealed the presence of an IL-4Ralpha on both eosinophils of normal donors and atopic dermatitis patients. In addition, the expression of the IL-2R gamma-chain, a functional component of the IL-4R in some cell types, was demonstrated. The IL-4Ralpha appeared to be expressed constitutively, and stimulation with cytokines IL-2, IL-3, IL-5, GM-CSF, and interferon-gamma did not further increase IL-4Ralpha expression. Evidence for an IL-4Ralpha was further substantiated by mRNA analysis. Both Northern blot analysis and reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction revealed the presence of mRNA for the IL-4Ralpha in eosinophils from normal individuals and AD patients. Furthermore, we demonstrated that both IL-4 and IL-13 were capable of inducing PI-3 kinase activity in human eosinophils. Because this activation could be inhibited by an IL-4Ralpha mAb, we conclude that both cytokines can activate human eosinophils through binding to a receptor complex comprising the IL-4Ralpha and-yet to be identified-associated proteins. In addition, the involvement of IL-4 in functional responses was studied. IL-4 appeared to "prime" eosinophils to respond chemotactically toward regulated on activation, normal T cells expressed and secreted, but did not affect platelet-activating factor-induced chemotaxis. Taken together, these data show the presence of a functional IL-4R on human eosinophils.

Analysis of signal transduction pathways in human eosinophils activated by chemoattractants and the T-helper 2-derived cytokines interleukin-4 and interleukin-5.

Activation and recruitment of eosinophils in allergic inflammation is in part mediated by chemoattractants and T-helper 2 (Th2)-derived cytokines. However, little is known concerning the signal transduction mechanisms by which this activation occurs. We have investigated tyrosine kinase-mediated activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and compared this with the activation of the p21ras-ERK signaling pathway in human eosinophils. The related cytokines interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-5, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), all induced PI3K activity detected in antiphosphotyrosine immunoprecipitates. Furthermore, the chemoattractants platelet-activating factor (PAF), RANTES, and C5a were also able to induce phosphotyrosine-associated PI3K activity. Protein kinase B (PKB) is a downstream target of PI3K activation by growth factors. Induction of PKB phosphorylation in human eosinophils was transiently induced on activation with the cytokines IL-4 and IL-5, as well as the chemoattractants PAF, C5a, and RANTES showing a broad activation profile. Surprisingly, analysis of the activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases p44(ERK1) and p42(ERK2), showed that ERK2, but not ERK1, was transiently activated in human eosinophils after stimulation with IL-5 or PAF. Activation kinetics correlated with activation of p21ras by both cytokines and chemoattractants as measured by a novel assay for guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-loading. Finally, using specific inhibitors of both the p21ras-ERK and PI3K signaling pathways, a role was demonstrated for PI3K, but not p21ras-ERK, in activation of the serum-treated zymosan (STZ)-mediated respiratory burst in IL-5 and PAF-primed eosinophils. In summary, these data show that in human eosinophils, Th2-derived cytokines differentially activate both PI3K and MAP kinase signal transduction pathways with distinct functional consequences showing complex regulation of eosinophil effector functions.

Differential effects of the T helper cell type 2-derived cytokines IL-4 and IL-5 on ligand binding to IgG and IgA receptors expressed by human eosinophils.

Increased numbers of eosinophilic granulocytes that exhibit an activated phenotype are found in bronchial tissue and bronchial alveolar lavage fluid of patients with allergic asthma. Little is known about the processes that lead to activation of eosinophils in vivo, but Igs might be important stimulants. In the present study we investigated the capacity of human eosinophils to interact with beads coated with human serum IgG or IgA. Binding of IgG/IgA-coated beads to eosinophils from normal donors appeared to be dependent on priming with Th2-derived cytokines. Priming with granulocyte-macrophage CSF, IL-4, or IL-5 is required for eosinophils to form rosettes with IgA-beads. IL-4 priming resulted in a fast and transient effect on binding of IgA-beads, whereas the effect of IL-5 priming was slower and longer lasting. The expression of Fc alphaR (CD89) was low compared with that on neutrophils, and experiments with the blocking mAb My43 (CD89) showed no inhibition of rosette formation between eosinophils and IgA-coated beads. However, polymeric myeloma IgA effectively inhibited the rosette formation of IgA-coated beads to eosinophils. Binding of IgG-beads could only be primed with granulocyte-macrophage CSF and IL-5, not with IL-4. These data are concurrent with the hypothesis that Th2-derived cytokines spatially produced at the side of an allergic inflammatory response can direct eosinophils to a rather restricted primed phenotype by IL-4 or to a more generalized primed phenotype by IL-5.

Regulation of Fc epsilonRI expression on human monocytic cells by ligand and IL-4.

BACKGROUND: The Fc epsilonRI subunit composition and kinetic of expression differ between antigen-presenting cells and mast cells. Up to now, there has been no human in vitro model available that mimics the characteristics on monocytes. OBJECTIVE: The characterization of a natural human monocytic cell line (THP1), which expresses Fc epsilonRI, and the comparison to primary human monocytes and other monocytic cell lines, which only express Fc epsilonRI after transfection with the human Fc epsilonRI alpha-chain gene. METHODS: Surface receptor expression was characterized by flow cytometry, the human Fc epsilonRI alpha-chain gene was introduced by electroporation, and induction of Fc epsilonRI alpha-chain message was detected by semiquantitative RT PCR. RESULTS: Here we show that the parental human cell line THP1, but none of the other cell lines tested, displays surface Fc epsilonRI in response to IL-4 or incubation with receptor ligand (IgE, antibody). Transfection of Fc epsilonRI alpha-chain resulted in receptor expression on all cell lines, all of which increased surface Fc epsilonRI in the presence of IgE. Only the THP1-alpha transfectant, however, further increased receptor levels in response to IL-4, resulting from mRNA induction for the Fc epsilonRI-alpha, but not the beta- or gamma-subunit. CONCLUSION: Based on THP1, U937 and HL60 and their alpha-chain transfectants we present a model system for the study of Fc epsilonRI regulation and signalling on human cells. THP1 in particular, due to its responsiveness to both ligand and IL-4, even without prior manipulation, is ideally suited to address questions on Fc epsilonRI modulation in an 'allergic environment'.

Adhesion molecule expression on skin endothelia in atopic dermatitis: effects of TNF-alpha and IL-4.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by skin infiltrates of leukocytes, such as lymphocytes and eosinophils. OBJECTIVE: To describe the mechanisms determining this inflammatory process, we have analyzed expression of adhesion molecules and their regulation on skin endothelial cells (ECs). METHODS: Expression of adhesion molecules on ECs was analyzed by immunohistochemistry by using Ulex europaeus agglutin 1 as a pan-endothelial marker. RESULTS: Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, and P-selectin were not found in skin of nonatopic individuals, whereas expression of these surface molecules was observed in nonlesional skin of patients with AD and was even more pronounced in lesional skin or after epicutaneous application of aeroallergen. Induction of adhesion molecule expression was examined on both macrovascular ECs from human umbilical cord vein (HUVECs) and human microvascular ECs (HMEC-1) from skin. TNF-alpha very potently upregulated adhesion molecule expression in vitro on both EC cell types. To verify the in vivo relevance of TNF-alpha, we performed TNF-alpha staining in the skin. TNF-alpha was observed in the dermis of nonatopic skin, both in chymase-containing mast cells and CD68+ macrophages. The increase in the number of TNF-alpha-containing cells was concomitant with the increase in adhesion molecule expression in the skin of patients with AD. IL-4 is supposed to be important in atopic diseases because of its IgE- and VCAM-1-inducing properties. However, IL-4 addition failed to induce VCAM-1 expression on HMEC-1, although in the same set of experiments, a clear induction of VCAM-1 expression by IL-4 on HUVECs was demonstrated. Flow cytometry revealed the absence of 11-4 receptor alpha-chains on HMEC-1 and their presence on HUVECs. Immunohistochemistry examination on skin sections showed no binding of the IL-4R alpha-chain antibodies to ECs. CONCLUSION: We conclude that adhesion molecule expression is increased in the skin of patients with AD. Most probably, this increased expression is not a (direct) effect of IL-4 on skin endothelium, but other cytokines, such as TNF-alpha, might be responsible for this increased adhesion molecule expression. Continuous adhesion molecule expression may facilitate T-cell extravasation in a nonantigen-specific manner, thus explaining the presence of increased T-cell numbers in nonlesional skin of patients with AD.