Eosinophil chemotactic chemokines (eotaxin, eotaxin-2, RANTES, monocyte chemoattractant protein-3 (MCP-3), and MCP-4), and C-C chemokine receptor 3 expression in bronchial biopsies from atopic and nonatopic (Intrinsic) asthmatics

J Immunol. 1999 Dec 1;163(11):6321-9.

Abstract

Atopic (AA) and nonatopic (NAA) asthma are characterized by chronic inflammation and local tissue eosinophilia. Many C-C chemokines are potent eosinophil chemoattractants and act predominantly via the CCR3. We examined the expression of eotaxin, eotaxin-2, RANTES, monocyte chemoattractant protein-3 (MCP-3), MCP-4, and CCR3 in the bronchial mucosa from atopic (AA) and nonatopic (intrinsic; NAA) asthmatics and compared our findings with atopic (AC) and nonatopic nonasthmatic controls (NC). Cryostat sections were processed for immunohistochemistry (IHC), in situ hybridization (ISH), and double IHC/ISH. Compared with AC and NC, the numbers of EG2+ cells and the cells expressing mRNA for eotaxin, eotaxin-2, RANTES, MCP-3, MCP-4, and CCR3 were significantly increased in AA and NAA (p < 0.01). Nonsignificant differences in these variants were observed between AA and NAA and between AC and NC. Significant correlations between the cells expressing eotaxin or CCR3 and EG2+ eosinophils in the bronchial tissue were also observed for both AA (p < 0.01) and NAA (p = 0.01). Moreover, in the total asthmatic group (AA + NAA) there was a significant inverse correlation between the expression of eotaxin and that of the histamine PC20 (p < 0.05). Sequential IHC/ISH showed that cytokeratin+ epithelial cells, CD31+ endothelial cells, and CD68+ macrophages were the major sources of eotaxin, eotaxin-2, RANTES, MCP-3, and MCP-4. There was no significantly different distribution of cells expressing mRNA for these chemokines between atopic and nonatopic asthma. These findings suggest that multiple C-C chemokines, acting at least in part via CCR3, contribute to bronchial eosinophilia in both atopic and nonatopic asthma.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Asthma / classification
  • Asthma / immunology*
  • Biopsy
  • Bronchi / immunology*
  • Bronchi / surgery
  • Chemokines / biosynthesis*
  • Chemokines / genetics
  • Chemotactic Factors, Eosinophil / biosynthesis*
  • Chemotactic Factors, Eosinophil / genetics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity, Immediate / classification
  • Hypersensitivity, Immediate / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monocyte Chemoattractant Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Monocyte Chemoattractant Proteins / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Receptors, CCR3
  • Receptors, Chemokine / biosynthesis*
  • Receptors, Chemokine / genetics
  • Respiratory Mucosa / immunology

Substances

  • CCR3 protein, human
  • Chemokines
  • Chemotactic Factors, Eosinophil
  • Monocyte Chemoattractant Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, CCR3
  • Receptors, Chemokine