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Background: Eosinophil differentiation, activation, and survival are largely regulated by IL-5. IL-5-mediated transmembrane signal transduction involves both Lyn-mitogen-activated protein kinases and Janus kinase 2-signal transducer and activator of transcription pathways., Objective: We sought to determine whether additional signaling molecules/pathways are critically involved in IL-5-mediated eosinophil survival., Methods: Eosinophil survival and apoptosis were measured in the presence and absence of IL-5 and defined pharmacologic inhibitors in vitro. The specific role of the serine/threonine kinase proviral integration site for Moloney murine leukemia virus (Pim) 1 was tested by using HIV-transactivator of transcription fusion proteins containing wild-type Pim-1 or a dominant-negative form of Pim-1. The expression of Pim-1 in eosinophils was analyzed by means of immunoblotting and immunofluorescence., Results: Although pharmacologic inhibition of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) by LY294002, wortmannin, or the selective PI3K p110delta isoform inhibitor IC87114 was successful in each case, only LY294002 blocked increased IL-5-mediated eosinophil survival. This suggested that LY294002 inhibited another kinase that is critically involved in this process in addition to PI3K. Indeed, Pim-1 was rapidly and strongly expressed in eosinophils after IL-5 stimulation in vitro and readily detected in eosinophils under inflammatory conditions in vivo. Moreover, by using specific protein transfer, we identified Pim-1 as a critical element in IL-5-mediated antiapoptotic signaling in eosinophils., Conclusions: Pim-1, but not PI3K, plays a major role in IL-5-mediated antiapoptotic signaling in eosinophils.

Background: Ligation of the leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) receptor 1 on effector memory CD8(+) T cells by LTB(4) is important for the recruitment of CD8(+) T cells into the airways, which appears central to the induction of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and allergic inflammation. Phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is important in activation and cytokine production from many cell types., Objective: The roles of ERKs in effector CD8(+) T-cell function and on CD8(+) T cell-mediated AHR were determined., Methods: Effector CD8(+) T cells were generated from OVA(257-264) (SIINFEKL) peptide-primed mononuclear cells from OT-1 mice. The effects of U0126, an ERK inhibitor, on effector CD8(+) T-cell function and on CD8(+) T cell-mediated AHR and allergic inflammation were examined., Results: Pretreatment of effector CD8(+) T cells with U0126 suppressed anti-CD3/anti-CD28-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation and cytokine production, but did not affect LTB(4)-induced Ca(2+) mobilization or chemotaxis. Adoptive transfer of U0126-treated CD8(+) T cells into sensitized mice before secondary allergen challenge resulted in significant decreases in AHR, eosinophilic inflammation, goblet cell metaplasia, and IL-5 and IL-13 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of recipient mice. The number of transferred CD8(+) T cells accumulating in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or lungs was unaffected by treatment., Conclusion: ERK1/2-dependent pathways are essential for the effector functions of CD8(+) T cells, including T(H)2 cytokine production, allergic inflammation, and development of AHR. Inhibition of ERK1/2 signaling has potential therapeutic benefit in preventing CD8(+) T cell-mediated AHR.

Background: Cysteinyl leukotriene (cysLT) antagonism attenuates migration of eosinophils into airways during immune challenge in human subjects and animal models. The intracellular signaling mechanism by which this occurs has not been elucidated., Objective: We sought to determine the relative efficacy and mechanism by which 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) inhibition and cysLT(1) receptor (cysLT(1)R) antagonism block beta(2)-integrin adhesion in isolated human eosinophils in vitro., Methods: Human blood eosinophils were isolated by means of immunomagnetic separation. Upregulation of CD11b expression, active conformation of CD11b, and focal clustering of beta(2)-integrin caused by IL-5, eotaxin-1 or leukotriene (LT) B(4) was assessed by means of flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. The effect and mechanism of cysLT(1)R or 5-LO blockade on these components of beta(2)-integrin adhesion were determined., Results: Montelukast, a cysLT(1)R antagonist, and AA861, a 5-LO enzyme inhibitor, blocked (1) avidity of beta(2)-integrin, (2) beta(2)-integrin-mediated adhesion to intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and (3) focal clustering of CD11b elicited by LTB(4). However, adhesion caused by either IL-5 or eotaxin-1 was not attenuated for eosinophils pretreated with either montelukast or AA861., Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that (1) LTB(4) causes autocrine upregulation of adhesion through secretion of cysLTs, and (2) blockade of cysLT(1)R blocks the avidity and focal clustering of CD11b/CD18 for eosinophils activated by LTB(4) but not by IL-5 or eotaxin-1., Clinical Implications: Unlike cysLT-induced adhesion, adhesion caused by IL-5 or eotaxin-1 is not regulated through the cysLT(1)R, suggesting that cysLTs have specific but limited potential to upregulate eosinophil adhesion.

Background: Surfactant dysfunction is implicated in small airway closure in asthma. Increased activity of secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)) in the airways is associated with asthma exacerbations. Phosphatidylcholine, the principal component of pulmonary surfactant that maintains small airway patency, is hydrolyzed by sPLA(2). The lysophosphatidylcholine product is the substrate for eosinophil lysophospholipases., Objective: To determine whether surfactant phospholipid hydrolysis by the combined activities of sPLA(2)s and eosinophil lysophospholipases induces surfactant dysfunction., Methods: The effect of these enzymes on surfactant function was determined by capillary surfactometry. Thin layer chromatography was used to correlate enzyme-induced changes in surfactant phospholipid composition and function. Phosphatidylcholine and its hydrolytic products were measured by using mass spectrometry., Results: Eosinophils express a 25-kd lysophospholipase and group IIA sPLA(2). Phospholipase A(2) alone induced only a small decrease in surfactant function, and 25-kd lysophospholipase alone degraded lysophosphatidylcholine but had no effect on surfactant function. The combined actions of sPLA(2) and lysophospholipase produced dose-dependent and time-dependent losses of surfactant function, concomitant with hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine. Lysates of AML14.3D10 eosinophils induced surfactant dysfunction, indicating these cells express all the necessary lipolytic activities. In contrast, lysates of blood eosinophils required exogenous phospholipase A(2) to induce maximal surfactant dysfunction., Conclusion: The combined activities of sPLA(2)s and eosinophil lysophospholipases are necessary to degrade surfactant phospholipids sufficiently to induce functional losses in surfactant activity as reported in asthma., Clinical Implications: The phospholipases and lysophospholipases expressed by eosinophils or other airway cells may represent novel therapeutic targets for blocking surfactant degradation, dysfunction, and peripheral airway closure in asthma.

Background: Migration of eosinophils into bronchial mucosa requires proteolysis. Montelukast, a cysteinyl leukotriene (CysLT) 1 receptor antagonist used in asthma treatment, decreases eosinophil infiltration into the asthmatic airways, suggesting that CysLTs modulate eosinophil protease activity., Objective: We sought to determine whether CysLTs and montelukast regulate eosinophil protease activity., Methods: Purified blood eosinophils were treated with or without montelukast; MK-0591, a 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein inhibitor; or leukotriene (LT) D(4). Migration assays through Matrigel were performed in the presence of 5-oxo-6,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (5-oxo-ETE), a potent eosinophil chemotactic factor, or LTD(4). Expression of molecules implicated in plasmin generation and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 9 release were also evaluated., Results: Montelukast and MK-0591 decreased eosinophil migration promoted by 5-oxo-ETE, whereas LTD(4) failed to induce eosinophil migration. However, LTD(4) significantly boosted the migration rate obtained with a suboptimal concentration of 5-oxo-ETE and partially reversed the inhibition obtained with MK-0591. Montelukast significantly reduced the maximal rate of activation of plasminogen into plasmin by eosinophils obtained with 5-oxo-ETE. 5-Oxo-ETE increased the number of eosinophils expressing urokinase plasminogen activator receptor and stimulated secretion of MMP-9. Montelukast, but neither MK-0591 nor LTD(4), reduced the expression of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor and the secretion of MMP-9 and increased total cellular activity of urokinase plasminogen activator and the expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor 2 mRNA., Conclusion: Montelukast inhibits eosinophil protease activity in vitro through a mechanism that might be independent of its antagonist effect on CysLT 1 receptor., Clinical Implications: This could partially explain montelukast's anti-inflammatory effect in asthma and eventually amplify to improve its therapeutic efficacy.

Background: Eosinophil migration in the tissue is one characteristic feature of allergic diseases. The CC chemokine eotaxin plays a pivotal role in local accumulation of eosinophils. Myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) is known to regulate cytoskeletal rearrangement and cell motility by means of phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC)., Objective: We have previously shown that mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases are important for eosinophil migration. In the present study we hypothesized that MLCK is downstream of MAP kinases, thereby linking the MAP kinase pathway to the activation of cytoskeletal components required for eosinophil chemotaxis., Methods: Blood eosinophils were purified by using Percoll and anti-CD16 antibody-coated magnetic beads. We investigated the phosphorylation of MLCK and MLC by using the phosphorous 32-orthophosphates-labeled eosinophils. The kinase activity of MLCK was determined by measuring the phosphotransferase activity for the MLCK-specific peptide substrate. The chemotaxis assay was performed in a 48-well Boyden microchamber., Results: The phosphotransferase activity of MLCK for a substrate peptide was enhanced in eotaxin-stimulated eosinophils. We also found that eotaxin induced phosphorylation of MLCK in vivo in phosphorous 32-orthophosphate-labeled eosinophils. PD98059 (MAP/extracellular signal-regulated kinase inhibitor) or SB202190 (p38 MAP kinase inhibitor) abrogated the eotaxin-induced phosphorylation of MLCK. The phosphorylation of MLC was upregulated by eotaxin. Eosinophil chemotaxis was inhibited by means of pretreatment of the MLCK inhibitor ML-7., Conclusion: These results suggest that eotaxin regulates MLCK through both extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and p38 MAP kinase. MLCK activation is a critical step in the cytoskeletal rearrangements leading to eosinophil migration.

Background: The A to C transversion in the promoter region of the gene encoding leukotriene C4 synthase (LTC4S) is proposed to be associated with the development of aspirin-induced asthma (AIA)., Objective: We investigated the frequency of the polymorphism in Japanese population and its association with clinical characteristics and cysteinyl leukotriene production., Methods: Genotyping of LTC4S gene promoter was performed on 60 patients with AIA, 100 patients with aspirin-tolerant asthma (ATA), and 110 control subjects. We assessed the basal levels of urinary LTE4, the increment of urinary LTE4 on venous aspirin challenge, and LTC4S activity in peripheral blood eosinophils., Results: The frequency of the variant C allele was significantly higher in patients with AIA (frequency of allele [q] = 0.192) than in patients with ATA (q = 0.110, P =.042). Variant C-allelic carriers experienced asthma at a significantly younger age (31.8 +/- 2.9 years [mean +/- SEM]) than wild-type A homozygotes (41.3 +/- 2.2 years, P =.007). Basal levels of LTE4 and the increment of urinary LTE4 on venous aspirin challenge did not show a difference between wild-type A homozygotes and variant C-allelic carriers. There was no relationship between the polymorphism and the LTC4S activity in eosinophils, although LTC4S activities were significantly higher in patients with AIA than in patients with ATA., Conclusion: Our findings reveal the lack of functionality of the polymorphism in the LTC4S gene, whereas this polymorphism might have some effect on the development of AIA, probably in linkage disequilibrium with another causatively important mutation.

Background: Although the existence of functional beta(2)-adrenoceptor on eosinophils has been reported, the effects of desensitization of beta(2)-adrenoceptors on eosinophils have not been well documented., Objective: The effects of desensitization of beta(2)-adrenoceptors on the degranulation of guinea pig eosinophils were investigated., Methods: Guinea pig eosinophils were stimulated with the calcium ionophore A23187, and eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) release was determined. Changes in intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels were also measured., Results: A23187-induced EPO release from guinea pig eosinophils was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by pretreatment for 5 minutes with fenoterol, clenbuterol, and salbutamol. Such effects of beta(2)-agonists were abolished by pretreatment with KT5720, an inhibitor of protein kinase A. Desensitization of the inhibitory effects of beta(2)-agonists was observed when the incubation time was prolonged. Fenoterol (10(-6) mol/L) induced almost complete desensitization after 120 minutes of incubation, whereas clenbuterol did not bring about significant desensitization. The inhibitory effects of fenoterol and clenbuterol on A23187-induced EPO release were correlated with increases in the intracellular cAMP levels evoked by either compound. After incubation of eosinophils with 10(-6) mol/L fenoterol for 120 minutes to induce complete desensitization of beta(2)-adrenoceptors, the inhibitory effects of theophylline and rolipram were increased by about 100-fold in the desensitized cells, although the effects of forskolin and dibutyryl cAMP were not affected by beta(2)-adrenoceptor desensitization., Conclusions: Prolonged incubation with beta(2)-agonists induced desensitization of beta(2)-adrenoceptors. Also, we postulated that hypersensitization of phosphodiesterase to its inhibitors occurs in beta(2)-adrenoceptor-desensitized guinea pig eosinophils.

Background: Asthma is characterized by an accumulation of activated eosinophils in the airway. Eosinophil viability-enhancing activity is present in the sputum of patients with asthma, largely because of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Bronchial epithelial cells have been shown to release cytokines including GM-CSF when stimulated with IL-1 beta or tumor necrosis factor-alpha., Objective: The study was designed to determine whether eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) stimulates the release of GM-CSF from bronchial epithelial cells., Methods: Epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) were cultured in serum free HD-F12 medium in a 24-well tissue culture plate until they became confluent. The cells were then exposed to EPO (5.9 x 10(-8) to 5.9 x 10(-7) mol/L) for 15 minutes, washed twice, and cultured in 1 ml of HD-F12. The supernatants were harvested at 3, 6, or 24 hours, and GM-CSF concentration was measured by ELISA. BEAS-2B cells were also treated with a system comprising EPO (1.9 x 10(-9) to 5.9 x 10(-8) mol/L) + 10(-5) mol/L H2O2 + 10(-4) mol/L Br for 24 hours., Results: The GM-CSF concentration in the supernatant pretreated with EPO increased in a time- and concentration-dependent manner compared with control. The release of GM-CSF was not inhibited by catalase but was inhibited by cyclohexamide and by mixing of EPO with heparin, suggesting that the action is due to the cationic property of EPO. When EPO was combined with H2O2 and Br, 5.9 x 10(-9) mol/L EPO + 10(-5) mol/L H2O2 released two times more GM-CSF into the supernatants compared with control., Conclusion: These results suggest that EPO stimulates epithelial cells to release GM-CSF and forms a self-stimulatory cycle.

Early hematopoietic progenitors expressing the CD34+ phenotype can be harvested from the peripheral blood of normal individuals. We have optimized the liquid culture of human CD34+ peripheral blood progenitors (PBPs) to achieve differentiation into a population of cells consisting almost entirely of eosinophil progenitors and maturing eosinophils. Growth of CD34+ PBPs for 28 days in the presence of the combination of IL-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and IL-5 resulted in an almost 250-fold increase in cell number, yielding a population that contained 83% maturing eosinophils. The residual population consisted of basophils and mast cells (3% by acidic toluidine blue staining, 15.2% by flow cytometric assay for binding to high-affinity IgE receptor) and immature cells. This provides an opportunity to examine the kinetics of the acquisition of specialized mature eosinophil characteristics during eosinophil differentiation. Several host-defense and bioactive proteins are found almost exclusively in eosinophil granules. In addition, stimulated eosinophils, like neutrophils, produce copious amounts of toxic oxygen radicals. We used our culture system and the sensitive technique of reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction to analyze the kinetics of production of messenger RNA transcripts encoding several eosinophil proteins, including five eosinophil granule proteins and four subunit peptides of the superoxide-generating reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase in small numbers of differentiating eosinophils from peripheral blood CD34+ cells. Freshly isolated CD34+ PBPs contained transcripts for the ubiquitously present housekeeping protein phosphoglucokinase but contained no eosinophil granule protein transcripts and barely detectable amounts of some oxidase protein transcripts. On day 3 of culture, no cells recognizable by histochemical staining as eosinophils could be detected, but transcripts for all five eosinophil granule proteins were present. These transcripts increased several fold during the entire culture period. Similar kinetics were seen for all but one of the NADPH oxidase protein transcripts. However, transcripts for the p67phox NADPH oxidase protein were not detected until day 7, and functional oxidase activity did not appear until day 12. From that point, oxidase activity increased dramatically over the culture period. These studies demonstrate that commitment of CD34+ PBPs to the eosinophil lineage occurs very early, by day 3, but that further events in differentiation must take place before the appearance of histologically staining eosinophil granules and acquisition of functional oxidase capacity.

The release of eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) was evaluated after incubation of eosinophils (EOSs) from allergic subjects with the specific allergen or with anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). High levels of EPO could be released after addition of the specific allergen (and not unrelated ones) or anti-IgE MAb. Moreover, EPO release with the two stimuli was significantly correlated both in allergic and in nonallergic patients. In the same supernatants, another granule protein, ECP, could not be detected, suggesting a lack of correlation between EPO and ECP release after IgE-dependent stimulation. However, when EOSs with surface-IgA antibodies were incubated with anti-IgA MAb, both EPO and ECP were released. In contrast, incubation of EOSs with anti-IgG MAb induced mainly the release of ECP and not EPO. These results indicate that pharmacologically active mediators can be released by EOSs from allergic and nonallergic patients on immunoglobulin-dependent activation. The results also confirm the hypothesis of a selective release of the various granule proteins and raise the question of transduction signals delivered by the three Fc receptors (Fc epsilon R, FC alpha R, and FC gamma R) present on human EOSs.

The function of the eosinophil in eosinophilic pulmonary syndromes and asthma is uncertain. To determine if eosinophils might play a harmful role in these conditions, we cocultured purified human eosinophils, eosinophil major basic protein (MBP), and chromatographically eluted eosinophil granule fractions with human A549 and rat type II pneumocytes. Damage to these target cells was measured as cell lysis and nonlethal cell detachment. We found that unstimulated intact eosinophils affected minimal lysis or detachment of either pneumocyte target, but eosinophils stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate and other activators produced time- and dose-dependent nonlytic detachment of both targets. In contrast, supernatants from activated eosinophils did not produce significant injury, suggesting that close apposition of the effector and target cells was required. Catalase and superoxide dismutase did not inhibit the detaching activity of eosinophils, suggesting that hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion were not activity of eosinophils, suggesting that hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion were not responsible for mediating this form of injury. In contrast to our findings with intact eosinophils, we observed that the addition of purified eosinophil MBP to pneumocytes caused marked cytolysis with little detachment. When sequential fractions of eosinophil granules separated by Sephadex G-50 chromatography were added to A549 and rat type II pneumocyte targets, it was found that different fractions produced distinct forms of injury. Higher molecular weight fractions containing lysosomal enzymes and eosinophil peroxidase produced predominantly detachment, whereas fractions enriched in MBP produced lysis. These results indicate that intact eosinophils can produce nonlytic detachment of alveolar pneumocytes that is probably not dependent on the generation of toxic oxygen radicals but rather appears to be mediated by granule-associated products, possibly lysosomal enzymes. Furthermore, although intact eosinophils are not capable of lysing alveolar epithelial cells under the conditions of our assay, MBP has the potential to do so when the protein is released in high enough concentrations. The in vivo relevance of these findings in eosinophilic lung diseases may be that eosinophils, by producing both desquamation and death of alveolar epithelium cells, may increase the permeability of the alveolus to fluid and cells. Moreover, these forms of damage might also enhance the ingress of inhaled antigens across the pulmonary epithelial barrier, thus increasing immunologic sensitization.

Azelastine is a new investigational drug used to treat rhinitis and asthma. In addition to described actions that include inhibition of immunologic release of histamine from mast cells and basophils, blockade of smooth muscle contraction to various spasmogenic mediators, and relaxation of airway smooth muscle, azelastine has been ascribed anti-inflammatory properties. To understand further the mechanisms by which azelastine may regulate inflammation, its effect on neutrophil and eosinophil superoxide (O2-) generation was evaluated. Purified suspension of neutrophils (greater than 95% pure) and eosinophils (greater than 85% pure) were isolated from human peripheral blood samples by continuous density gradients of Percoll. The isolated granulocyte suspensions (1 x 10(5) cells) were added to 96-well microtiter plates in the presence of cytochrome c, activated by either N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, phorbol myristate acetate, calcium ionophore A23187, or opsonized zymosan particles; O2- generation was measured by the reduction of cytochrome c. We found that azelastine significantly inhibited both neutrophil and eosinophil generation of O2- in a dose-dependent fashion (10(-7) to 10(-5) mol/L) with each activator except zymosan. Furthermore, the degree to which azelastine suppressed O2- was similar in neutrophils and eosinophils. Thus, azelastine, in concentrations achieved therapeutically, inhibited granulocyte generation of O2-. This anti-inflammatory effect may also be beneficial in the treatment of asthma.

Recent data suggest that eosinophils may cause lung injury. To determine if the eosinophil peroxidase (EPO)-hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-halide system could mediate this injury, we added human EPO, H2O2 (or glucose and glucose oxidase as a continuous source of H2O2), and various halides to monolayers of 51Cr-labeled human A549 and rat type II pneumocytes. Cell lysis was measured as soluble 51Cr release. In initial experiments, EPO in solution did not induce lysis under these conditions. Therefore, in subsequent experiments, pneumocytes were preincubated with EPO for 15 minutes, washed to remove unbound enzyme, and then glucose, glucose oxidase, and the halides were added. EPO alone was not injurious, nor was the addition of glucose and glucose oxidase in the absence of EPO. In contrast, the combined addition of EPO, glucose, glucose oxidase, and chloride produced marked target-cell lysis. This effect was time and EPO dose dependent and was enhanced by the addition of iodide. Catalase and azide substantially inhibited the lysis produced by the EPO-H2O2-halide system, suggesting that EPO-catalyzed products of halide oxidation mediated this form of injury. Finally, the addition of eosinophil major basic protein at 10(-5) mol/L to EPO-coated pneumocytes incubated with glucose, glucose oxidase, and halides failed to enhance or inhibit lysis. We hypothesize that the EPO-H2O2-halide system may injure the lung in asthma and eosinophilic pulmonary syndromes.

The human eosinophil contains lysosomal enzymes that can contribute directly to tissue injury and inflammation. Characterization of lysosomal-enzyme release from the eosinophil has been largely limited to isolates from patients with hypereosinophilia. Because eosinophils from such individuals may not demonstrate normal functional responses, we established a method to obtain purified, normal human eosinophils with a Percoll gradient. With this method, it is possible to isolate eosinophils (95.5 +/- 3.9%) and neutrophils (greater than 99%) in high purity from normal subjects. With these granulocyte isolates, we evaluated and compared release of the lysosomal enzyme, beta-glucuronidase (BG), after cell activation with opsonized zymosan particles. Neutrophils released 33.0 +/- 1.2% (mean +/- SEM; n = 5) of total BG (30 minutes of incubation with zymosan), whereas eosinophil secretion was 24.2 +/- 1.7% (n = 5). The fungal metabolite, cytochalasin B (CB), which inhibits microfilament activity, enhanced BG secretion from neutrophils (33.0 +/- 1.2% to 42.8 +/- 2.8% with CB; p less than 0.01). In contrast, CB had no effect on eosinophil BG release. Interestingly, BG content in eosinophils is 101.2 +/- 3.9 micrograms phenolphthalein per 10(6) cells per 18 hours, which compares to a neutrophil level of 51.0 +/- 3.2 (p less than 0.001). Thus, although eosinophils and neutrophils release a similar percentage of total cellular BG on stimulation with zymosan particles, the absolute amount of enzyme per cell is greater in the eosinophil than in the neutrophil. Study of eosinophil function promises to elicit a more complete insight into its contribution to tissue injury.

Eosinophils from normal nonatopic healthy volunteers (195 +/- 106 cells per microliter) were isolated by centrifugation over a discontinuous Percoll gradient, under isotonic conditions, with a recovery of 46.5 +/- 26.2% from whole blood (n = 21; mean +/- SD). More than 90% of the eosinophils (purity greater than 93%) with a density between 1.095 to 1.105 gm/ml were defined normodense. Less than 10% of the eosinophils had a density less than 1.095 gm/ml and were defined hypodense. Isolation of eosinophils of patients with atopic asthma revealed a cell population with 65% to 70% hypodense cells that was independent of the total eosinophilic cell count. In vitro activation of normodense eosinophils, measured by an increase in superoxide production, induced quantities of hypodense eosinophils in the range found in patients with asthma. The amount of hypodense eosinophils induced by different stimuli was in the same order as the increase in superoxide production (antibiotic calcium ionophore A23187 greater than serum-treated zymosan greater than platelet-activating factor greater than N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl phenylalanine). During the stimulation of the normodense cells, no secretion of eosinophilic peroxidase or arylsulfatase B could be measured, even though hypodense eosinophils were produced. Enzymatic activity of arylsulfatase B within the eosinophils remained the same, before and after stimulation. The enzymatic activity of eosinophilic peroxidase in normodense eosinophils (16.6 +/- 9.7 micrograms/10(6) cells) did not change in the normodense fraction but was increased in the induced hypodense cells (34.0 +/- 8.4 micrograms/10(6) cells; n = 7; mean +/- SD; p less than 0.01) after stimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)