The soluble isoform of human FcɛRI is an endogenous inhibitor of IgE-mediated mast cell responses.

BACKGROUND: The soluble isoform of FcɛRI, the high-affinity IgE receptor (sFcεRI), is a protein of the IgE network with poorly defined functions. OBJECTIVE: To define cellular sources and signals that result in the production of human sFcεRI and study its in vivo functions. METHODS: FcεRI-transfected human cell lines (MelJuso), human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs), and murine bone marrow-derived mast cells (MC) were stimulated by FcεRI cross-linking and release of sFcεRI was analyzed (ELISA, Western Blot). Lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 degranulation assays and human basophil activation tests (BATs) were used to study IgE-dependent activation. Recombinant sFcεRI (rsFcεRI) was used to assess its role in murine models of anaphylaxis with WT (wild-type) and IgE-/- (IgE-deficient) mice. RESULTS: Antigen-specific cross-linking of IgE-loaded FcɛRI on MelJuso cells that express the trimeric or tetrameric receptor isoform induced the production of sFcεRI. Using MCs and moDCs, we confirmed that IgE/FcɛRI activation induces sFcɛRI release. We demonstrated that generation of sFcɛRI requires Src phosphorylation and endo/lysosomal acidification. In experimental mouse models, sFcɛRI diminishes the severity of IgE-mediated anaphylaxis. BATs confirmed that, comparable to the anti-IgE monoclonal antibody omalizumab, sFcɛRI is an inhibitor of the human innate IgE effector axis, implying that sFcɛRI and omalizumab potentially inhibit each other in vivo. CONCLUSION: sFcɛRI is produced after antigen-specific IgE/FcɛRI-mediated activation signals and functions as an endogenous inhibitor of IgE loading to FcɛRI and IgE-mediated activation. Our results imply, therefore, that sFcɛRI contributes to a negative regulatory feedback loop that aims at preventing overshooting responses after IgE-mediated immune activation.

IgE promotes type 2 innate lymphoid cells in murine food allergy.

BACKGROUND: Mast cells serve an important sentinel function at mucosal barriers and have been implicated as key early inducers of type 2 immune responses in food allergy. The generation of Th2 and IgE following food allergen ingestion is inhibited in the absence of mast cells. Group 2 innate lymphoid cells are also thought to play an important early role in nascent allergic responses. OBJECTIVE: To test whether IgE-mediated mast cell activation promotes intestinal ILC2 responses following ingestion of food allergens and whether ILC2 amplify food allergy. METHODS: Two different mouse models of food allergy, one using intraperitoneally ovalbumin (OVA)-primed BALB/c animals and the other using enterally peanut-sensitized inherently atopic IL4raF709 mice, were applied to test the contributions of IgE antibodies and mast cells to ILC2 responses. The effect of ILC2 on mast cell activation and on anaphylaxis was tested. RESULTS: ILC2 responses were significantly impaired in both models of food allergy in Igh7-/- mice harbouring a targeted deletion of the gene encoding IgE. A similar reduction in food allergen-induced ILC2 was observed in mast cell-deficient Il4raF709 KitW-sh mice, and this was partially corrected by reconstituting these animals using cultured bone marrow mast cells. Mast cells activated ILC2 for IL-13 production in an IL-4Rα-dependent manner. Activated ILC2 amplified systemic anaphylaxis by increasing target tissue sensitivity to mast cell mediators. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These findings support an important role for IgE-activated mast cells in driving intestinal ILC2 expansion in food allergy and reveal that ILC2, in turn, can enhance responsiveness to the mediators of anaphylaxis produced by mast cells. Strategies designed to inhibit IgE signalling or mast cell activation are likely to inhibit both type 2 immunity and immediate hypersensitivity in food allergy.

Importance of basophils in eosinophilic asthma: the murine counterpart.

Several experimental studies in mice showed that basophils participate in the initiation of Th2 adaptive immune response, in addition to the effector phase. However, the role of basophils in allergic airway inflammation is less clear. The aim of this experiment was to assess the importance of basophils in recruiting inflammatory cells and, in particular, eosinophils in a murine model of asthma induced by Aspergillus fumigatus allergens. Additionally, bronchial reactivity was evaluated. Basophil depletion resulted in a reduction of inflammatory cells in the airways and eosinophil recruitment was significantly impaired. Also bronchial reactivity seemed to be impaired in basophil-depleted mice, but the result was not statistically significant. According to these preliminary data, basophils seem to influence the local eosinophilic response of allergic asthma.

Basophils are rapidly mobilized following initial aeroallergen encounter in naïve mice and provide a priming source of IL-4 in adaptive immune responses.

Chronic aeroallergen inhalation elicits the expansion of IL-4-producing Th2 cells and the production of IgE antibodies. In sensitized subjects, who have established IgE and Th2 responses, re-exposure to allergen leads to rapid recruitment of basophils, which are thought to be important effectors of late phase allergic reactions. Several investigations of responses to parasites and injected antigens have identified an additional role for basophils as innate immune effectors during initial antigen encounter in immunologically naïve hosts. These cells constitutively express IL-4 and promote Th2 polarized adaptive responses to such antigens. Their early recruitment and modulation of cellular immune responses to natural inhaled allergens in the airways has been scarcely investigated. In this study, basophils were enumerated in lung tissue, blood and spleen from BALB/c mice in the first days after inhalation of an aqueous extract of the allergen, Aspergillus fumigatus (Af). Af inhalation induced rapid increases in basophil numbers in the lung, blood and spleen. This was Rag-1-, MyD88- and IL-3-independent. The basophils expressed abundant IL-4. Their depletion during Af sensitization resulted in an attenuated induction of both IL-4 producing Th lymphocytes and specific IgE and IgG1 responses to an inhaled protein antigen, ovalbumin, which was co-administered. Our results suggest that basophils are rapidly recruited to the airways of naïve mice following initial fungal allergen exposure, produce IL-4 and influence the development of the adaptive immune response.

Cell surface antigens of human malignant melanoma. II. Serological typing with immune adherence assays and definition of two new surface antigens.

Immune adherence assays revealed that 10 out of 18 melanoma patients had demonstrable antibody to surface antigens of autologous cultured melanoma cells, with serum titers ranging from 1/4 to 1/160. Autologous fibroblasts showed no reactions with these sera. Antibody from individual patients showed reproducible temperature preference for maximal reactivity. Two new melanoma antigenic systems were defined in this study. The first, BD, was restricted to autologous melanoma and could not be demonstrated in absorption tests on 12 allogeneic melanoma cell lines. The other, AH, was found on 5 of 12 melanomas and represents a class of shared melanoma surface antigens. Neither BD nor AH antigen was found on normal cells from autologous, allogeneic, or xenogeneic sources or on any nonmelanoma tumor cell line. Methods are now available to develop a comprehensive serological classification of the surface antigens of melanoma.

On the number and nature of antigen-sensitive lymphocytes in the blood of delayed-hypersensitive human donors.

The virus plaque assay has been successfully employed to enumerate antigen-sensitive cells in the peripheral blood lymphocyte populations of tuberculin-hypersensitive human donors. The method is based on the finding that, while resting lymphocytes are unable to produce a variety of viruses upon infection, lymphocytes activated by specific antigens become capable of virus replication. The average number of antigen-sensitive cells detected in cell populations from donors reacting to first test strength or intermediate test strength tuberculin was approximately 3.6/1000 lymphocytes, and the averages for both groups were similar. Studies on the kinetics of appearance of these virus plaque-forming cells and on the effects of the mitotic inhibitor, vinblastine, indicate that the activation of these antigen-sensitive cells is a linear process and that the cells must be nondividing cells during this process. These qualities contrast markedly with those described for the mitogenic response and the antibody-producing cells which require cell division and increase exponentially. On the basis of these experiments it is suggested that the antigen-sensitive cell measured in the virus plaque assay is the effector cell in delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions and, in addition, may be one of the cells critically involved in antibody formation.

B-cell activation by lipopolysaccharide. Distinct pathways for induction of mitosis and antibody production.

The role played by macrophages in two effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the immune system of the mouse-substitution for helper T cells and induction of B-cell mitosis-has been investigated. C3H/HeJ mice are unresponsive and do not produce (as other strains do) antibody to 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) conjugated with autologous mouse erythrocytes (MRBC-TNP) in the presence of LPS. We found that C3H/HeJ spleen cells produce antibody to MRBC-TNP when (a) LPS and macrophages from LPS-responsive C3HeB/FeJ mice or (b) tumor necrosis serum ([TNS] induced by LPS in responsive mice) are added. The mitotic response was not restored. The findings suggest that adjuvanticity and mitogenicity represent distinct pathways of B-cell activation by LPS, subject to different regulatory mechanisms.

Heterogeneity in surface antigen and glycoprotein expression of cell lines derived from different melanoma metastases of the same patient. Implications for the study of tumor antigens.

Three established lines of melanoma cells were derived from anatomically distinct metastases occurring in a single patient (DX). The lines, DX-1, DX-2, and DX-3, showed marked phenotypic diversity, as indicated by characteristic differences in growth rate, morphology, pigmentation, and the expression of surface antigens and glycoproteins. DX-1 and DX-3 expressed HLA-DR products, whereas DX-2 lacked HLA-DR expression. DX-1, DX-2, and DX-3 could also be distinguished on the basis of the profile of radiolabeled glycoproteins. Additional quantitative differences in the surface antigenic phenotype of the three cell lines were revealed by serological tests with a battery of monoclonal and conventional antibodies defining melanoma differentiation antigens. In tests for autologous humoral immunity to melanoma cells, sera from patient DX were found to have IgG antibody that reacted with surface antigens of DX-2 cells; no autologous reactivity was seen with DX-1 or DX-3 target cells or with three more recently established melanoma cell lines from patient DX. Absorption analysis indicated that the antigen detected by DX sera on DX-2 cells is a class 1 melanoma antigen, having been detected only on DX-2 cells and in much lower but demonstrable amounts on DX-1 and DX-3 cells. No other cell type, including DX normal fibroblasts, DX B cells, or 45 allogeneic melanoma cell lines expressed the class 1 antigen of DX melanoma. The fact that only one of the melanoma cell lines derived from patient DX was suitable target for the detection of autologous class 1 reactivity has implications for the study of human tumor antigens and may explain why antibody to class 1 antigens has been found so infrequently in past studies of melanoma patients.

Cell surface antigens of human malignant melanoma. III. Recognition of autoantibodies with unusual characteristics.

The sera of three patients with malignant melanoma showing reactivity with surface antigens of cultured autologous melanoma cells were analyzed by mixed hemadsorption and immune adherence assays in conjunction with absorption tests. In contrast to the melanoma-specific antigens demonstrated previously, the surface antigens detected by these sera occurred on a broad range of nucleated cells, both normal and malignant, from human, monkey, mouse, and chicken sources. Each serum had a characteristic pattern of reactivity in absorption tests, indicating the detection of distinct antigenic systems. Two sera showed auto-, allo-, and xenoreactivity, as well as the capacity to distinguish different cell populations in the same individual. The other serum reacted with an antigen apparently universally present on nucleated cells from a variety of species, but absent on erythrocytes. As these patients had been treated with chemotherapy, this may have played a role in the emergence of these broadly reactive autoantibodies.

Ly phenotype of cytotoxic T cells for syngeneic tumor.

Our present and previous findings may be summarized as follows: The phenotype of C57BL/6 (B6) cytotoxic cells for allogeneic target cells is Thy-1+, Ly-1- Ly-2/3+, MSLA+, and Ig-. the phenotype of B6 cytotoxic cells for syngeneic tumor cells is Thy-1+, Ly-1+, Ly-2/3+, MSLA+, and Ig-. The phenotype of B6 cytotoxic cells for syngeneic tumor cells is Thy-1+, Ly-1+, Ly-2/3+, MSLA+, AND Ig-. Thus, differences in Ly phenotype appear to be exhibited not only by cytotoxic T cells as opposed to helper T cells, but also within subcategories of cytotoxic T cells.

Surface antigens of melanoma and melanocytes. Specificity of induction of Ia antigens by human gamma-interferon.

IFN-gamma is known to induce expression of Ia antigens on a variety of cell types. In the present study, this activity of IFN-gamma has been analyzed with a panel of 36 melanoma cell lines, normal melanocytes, and 97 cell lines representing a range of other differentiation lineages. 55% of the melanoma cell lines express Ia antigens in a constitutive manner without IFN-gamma induction. Of the 16 Ia-melanoma lines, 13 could be induced to express Ia antigens by IFN-gamma, whereas three were noninducible. Melanocytes, which do not normally express Ia antigens, are converted to Ia expression by IFN-gamma. Ia antigens expressed constitutively or after IFN-gamma induction were identified with antibodies detecting monomorphic and allomorphic products of DR and DC loci. IFN-gamma appeared to be unique in its ability to induce Ia expression on melanoma and melanocytes; 14 other agents (including IFN-alpha and IFN-beta) known to influence growth or differentiation did not have Ia-inducing activity. Equally striking is the restriction of antigenic changes following IFN-gamma induction to HLA-associated products; of the 38 systems of cell surface antigens examined, only HLA-A,B,C, beta 2m, and Ia antigens were affected. A variety of other Ia- cell types were shown to be Ia-inducible by IFN-gamma; these included established lines of breast, colon, pancreas, bladder, kidney, ovary, and brain cancers, and cultures of normal fibroblasts, kidney epithelia, and epidermal keratinocytes. In contrast, three tumor types, teratocarcinoma, choriocarcinoma, and neuroblastoma, were not inducible for Ia expression, even though IFN-gamma could induce expression of HLA-A,B,C products. The broad representation of Ia antigens on most somatic cell types expressed either constitutively or after IFN-gamma can be viewed in an immunological context (antigen presentation/immune regulatory signals) or could indicate that Ia products have functions other than those related to immune reactions.

Expression of T-cell differentiation antigens on effector cells in cell-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro. Evidence for functional heterogeneity related to the surface phenotype of T cells.

The cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC) of nonadherent cells from the peritoneal cavity (NAPC) of alloimmunized mice can be measured by the [3H]proline microassay. The exhibition of thymus-derived (T) cell antigens on these killer cells was studied by incubating them with the relevant T-cell antisera and complement (C), under optimal conditions for lysis, before performance of the CMC assay. Under these conditions, the following T-cell antigens were demonstrable on the killer population in terms of percent reduction in CMC by the respective antisera: (a) Thy-1.1 (83%) and Thy-1.2 (100%), (b) MSLA (86%), (c) NTA-RA (a T-cell antigen recognized by naturally occurring autoantibody of NZB mice) (62%), (d) Ly1.1 )58%, (e) Ly-2.1 (11%; considered a marginal result) and Ly-2.2 (63%), and (f) Ly-3.2 (77%). The following were not demonstrable: (g) TL, and (h) Ly-1.2. (i) The antigen Ly-3.1 was not studied. Omission of C deprived all T-cell antisera tested of their capacity to suppress CMC, indicating that the cell components recognized by such antisera may perform no direct function in CMC. On the assumption that all Ly+ cells are Thy-1+, it is clear that the T-cell members of the immune NAPC population must be heterogenous. This follows from the fact that the proportions of T cells lysed by different Ly antisera did not correspond with ensuing degree of loss of CMC capacity. The extremes were represented by anti-Ly-1.2 (74% Thy-1+ cells lysed, but no reduction in CMC) and Ly-3.2 (54% Thy-1+ cells lysed, with 77% reduction in CMC). From this initial survey it appears that the C57BL/6 mice killer T-cell population active in CMC in vitro is relatively rich in surface antigens of the Ly-2/Ly-3 category and relatively poor in representation of the Ly-1 surface antigens. It remains to be seen whether this killer cell phenotype, poor in Ly-1 and rich in Ly-2/Ly-3, is characteristic of the mouse generally. From these results it appears that subsets of T cells with different immunological functions may exhibit qualitative or quantitative differences in surface antigens specified by different Ly loci; this will be easier to assess in the future when the results of experiments with the same Ly antisera but dealing with T-cell functions other than CMC become available.

Cell surface antigens of human renal cancer defined by autologous typing.

Sera from 28 patients with renal cancer were tested for reactivity with surface antigens of cultured autologous renal cancer cells. Four serological assays were used to survey sera for autologous antibody. Immune adherence, protein A, and C3-mixed hemadsorption assays detected reactivity in a high percentage of patients (80-100%), whereas mixed hemadsorption assays were negative with sera from all but one patient. Reactive sera from six patients were analyzed by absorption tests with autologous, allogeneic, and restricted to autologous renal cancer cells; class 2 antigens, present on certain allogeneic renal and nonrenal cancer cells; and class 3 antigens, found on a wide variety of normal and malignant cell types. The sera of one patient detected class 1, 2, and 3 antigens, the sera of three patients detected class 2 antigens, and the sera of two patients detected class 3 antigens. This analysis of renal cancer, with the recognition of three classes of surface antigens recognized by autologous sera, resembles the results of autologous typing of three other human malignancies: malignant melanoma, acute leukemia, and astrocytoma. Evidence provided by autologous typing of these cancers indicates that class 1 and class 2 antigens are tumor-restricted and that under certain circumstances these antigens are immunogenic for the autologous host.

Cell surface antigens of murine leukemias induced by radiation leukemia virus. Recognition of individually distinct cell surface antigens by cytotoxic T cells on leukemias expressing crossreactive transplantation antigens.

The specificity of transplantation immunity and T cell cytotoxicity against leukemias induced by RadLV was examined. Subcutaneous inoculation of two RadLV leukemias induced in BALB/c mice, BALBRVB and BALBRVD, resulted in initial tumor growth in CB6F1 mice, followed by complete tumor regression. Mice that had rejected leukemias BALBRVB or BALBRVD were subsequently challenged with various tumors of BALB/c origin. The growth of all five RadLV leukemias tested, and of one radiation-induced leukemia, was significantly inhibited. Another radiation-induced leukemia, a methylcholanthrene-induced sarcoma, and a leukemia induced by the Moloney leukemia virus, were not inhibited. The results indicate that RadLV leukemias share cell surface antigens that induce transplantation immunity in vivo. Cytotoxic lymphocytes were generated by coculturing spleen cells from mice that had rejected leukemia BALBRVB or BALBRVD with the corresponding leukemia cells. Direct tests and inhibition tests showed that such cytotoxic cells recognized individually specific antigens on leukemias BALBRVB and BALBRVD, distinct from the shared antigens detected in transplantation experiments. The effector cells in cytotoxicity assays were Thy-1+, Lyt-1+,-, Lyt-2+, and Lyt-3+ T cells.

IgE enhances mouse mast cell Fc(epsilon)RI expression in vitro and in vivo: evidence for a novel amplification mechanism in IgE-dependent reactions.

The binding of immunoglobulin E (IgE) to high affinity IgE receptors (Fc(epsilon)RI) expressed on the surface of mast cells primes these cells to secrete, upon subsequent exposure to specific antigen, a panel of proinflammatory mediators, which includes cytokines that can also have immunoregulatory activities. This IgE- and antigen-specific mast cell activation and mediator production is thought to be critical to the pathogenesis of allergic disorders, such as anaphylaxis and asthma, and also contributes to host defense against parasites. We now report that exposure to IgE results in a striking (up to 32-fold) upregulation of surface expression of Fc(epsilon)RI on mouse mast cells in vitro or in vivo. Moreover, baseline levels of Fc(epsilon)RI expression on peritoneal mast cells from genetically IgE-deficient (IgE -/-) mice are dramatically reduced (by approximately 83%) compared with those on cells from the corresponding normal mice. In vitro studies indicate that the IgE-dependent upregulation of mouse mast cell Fc(epsilon)RI expression has two components: an early cycloheximide-insensitive phase, followed by a later and more sustained component that is highly sensitive to inhibition by cycloheximide. In turn, IgE-dependent upregulation of Fc(epsilon)RI expression significantly enhances the ability of mouse mast cells to release serotonin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-4 in response to challenge with IgE and specific antigen. The demonstration that IgE-dependent enhancement of mast cell Fc(epsilon)RI expression permits mast cells to respond to antigen challenge with increased production of proinflammatory and immunoregulatory mediators provides new insights into both the pathogenesis of allergic diseases and the regulation of protective host responses to parasites.

Detection of cell surface and intracellular antigens by human monoclonal antibodies. Hybrid cell lines derived from lymphocytes of patients with malignant melanoma.

This study represents an initial attempt to analyze the humoral immune reactions of patients with malignant melanoma by hybridoma methodology. Using lymphocytes from regional lymph nodes, peripheral blood and tumor infiltrates, 158 fusions were performed with SKO-007 (human myeloma line), LICR-LON-HMy2 (LICR-2), GM 4672 (human lymphoblastoid lines), or NS-1 (mouse myeloma line). Fusion of lymph node lymphocytes with NS-1 resulted in a 3-4 times higher frequency of clones than fusion with LICR-2, and a 10 times higher frequency than fusion with SKO-007 or GM 4672. In the case of peripheral blood lymphocytes, fusion with NS-1 gave greater than 25 times higher frequency of clones than fusion with LICR-2 or SKO-007. Production of human mu, gamma, or alpha heavy chains was detected in 50-80% of wells containing growing clones, and the levels of immunoglobulin ranged from 0.3 micrograms to 40 micrograms/ml. NS-1-derived clones could be easily subcultured, while LICR-2 and SKO-007 clones grew more slowly on subculturing. In this study, Ig secretion appeared to be a more stable property of LICR-2-derived clones than NS-1-derived clones. A panel of 20 human cancer cell lines was used to screen 771 Ig-secreting cultures for antibody to cell surface or intracellular antigens. Reactivity with cell surface antigens was found infrequently (6 cultures), whereas reactivity with intracellular antigens was more common (27 cultures). A new cell surface antigen with properties of a glycolipid was defined with an IgM monoclonal antibody secreted by a tetraploid cell derived from a fusion of LICR-2 with lymphocytes from the axillary lymph node of a patient with melanoma. The hybrid cell line has been subcloned four times and secretes 5 micrograms IgM/ml. The antigen detected by this IgM antibody was found on 5 of 23 melanoma cell lines and 12 of 30 epithelial cancer cell lines. No reactions were found with 11 cultures derived from normal cells. Stable cell lines secreting human antibody that detected nuclei, nucleoli, cytoskeletal elements, Golgi complex, or other cytoplasmic components were also isolated in this study. One of these antibodies detected an intracellular antigen that is restricted to cells of neuroectodermal derivation, and a second antibody reacted primarily with cells of epithelial origin. Using these methods to isolate and analyze human monoclonal antibody, it should now be possible to define the repertoire of the humoral immune response to melanoma.

GD3, a prominent ganglioside of human melanoma. Detection and characterisation by mouse monoclonal antibody.

Mouse monoclonal antibody AbR24 has a high degree of specificity for human melanoma cells when tested on viable cultured cells using the protein A mixed hemagglutinin serological assay. The antigen detected by this antibody has been isolated from melanoma cells and shown to be GD3 ganglioside by compositional and partial structural analysis and by comparison with authentic GD3 in thin layer chromatography (TLC). AbR24 reacts with authentic GD3, but not with any other ganglioside tested. Using TLC and reactivity with AbR24, a wide range of cells and tissues was examined for the presence of GD3. A new serological assay, termed glycolipid-mediated immune adherence, was devised for assaying the reactivity of AbR24 with gangliosides. Melanomas (cultured cells or tumor tissue) were shown to have GD3 and GM3 as major gangliosides. Other cells and tissues examined also contained GD3, but usually only in low amounts. Melanomas (and MOLT-4, a T cell line) were characterized by a simplified ganglioside profile with GD3 and GM3 as major components. The apparent discrepancy between the ubiquitous presence of GD3 and the serological specificity of AbR24 for melanoma cells can be explained in terms of localization and concentration of GD3 in different cells.

A transformation-associated 130-kD cell surface glycoprotein is growth controlled in normal human cells.

Two characteristics of cell surface molecules involved in the regulation of cell proliferation are altered expression in relation to growth phase in normal cells and overexpression in transformed cells. Here, we describe a similar pattern of expression for a 130-kD cell surface glycoprotein (gp 130) in human cells. Synthesis and cell surface expression of gp130 were greatly increased in both virally and chemically transformed fibroblasts, fibrosarcomas, a squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, and T cell leukemia lines. Furthermore, gp130 expression was induced in serum-starved fetal fibroblasts by serum stimulation, and in fresh T cells by various activating agents. Expression in response to serum stimulation was associated primarily with the transition from a quiescent state (G0) into the cell cycle (G1).

Molecular and biological characterization of the murine leukotriene B4 receptor expressed on eosinophils.

The movement of leukocytes into tissues is regulated by the local production of chemical mediators collectively referred to as chemoattractants. Although chemoattractants constitute a diverse array of molecules, including proteins, peptides, and lipids, they all appear to signal leukocytes through a related family of seven transmembrane-spanning G protein-coupled receptors. The eosinophil is a potent proinflammatory cell that is attracted into tissues during allergic inflammation, parasitic infection, and certain malignancies. Since the molecular mechanisms controlling eosinophil recruitment are incompletely understood, we performed a degenerate polymerase chain reaction on cDNA isolated from murine eosinophils to identify novel chemoattractant receptors. We report the isolation of a cDNA that encodes a 351-amino acid glycoprotein that is 78% identical to a human gene that has been reported to be a purinoceptor (P2Y7) and a leukotriene B4 (LTB4) receptor (BLTR). Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with this cDNA specifically bound [3H]LTB4 with a dissociation constant of 0.6 +/- 0.1 nM. Furthermore, LTB4 induced a dose-dependent intracellular calcium flux in transfected CHO cells. In contrast, [35S]dATP did not specifically bind to these transfectants. This mRNA was expressed at high levels in interleukin 5-exposed eosinophils, elicited peritoneal macrophages and neutrophils, and to a lesser extent interferon gamma stimulated macrophages. Low levels of expression were detected in the lung, lymph node, and spleen of unchallenged mice. Western blot analysis detected the mBLTR protein in murine eosinophils and alveolar macrophages as well as human eosinophils. In addition, elevated levels of mBLTR mRNA were found in the lungs of mice in a murine model of allergic pulmonary inflammation in a time course consistent with the influx of eosinophils. Our findings indicate that this murine receptor is an LTB4 receptor that is highly expressed on activated leukocytes, including eosinophils, and may play an important role in mediating eosinophil recruitment into inflammatory foci.