Expression of mRNA and immunoreactivity for the granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor in activated human eosinophils.
Using in situ hybridization, we have shown that activated human peripheral blood eosinophils express mRNA for granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Between 15 and 27% of eosinophils gave positive hybridization signals for GM-CSF mRNA after stimulation with the calcium ionophore A23187 or interferon gamma, and 4 and 6% after incubation with interleukin 3 (IL-3) or IL-5. Activated eosinophils also gave specific immunoreactivity with an anti-GM-CSF polyclonal antibody, suggesting translation of the mRNA. These data indicate that eosinophils may be an important source of GM-CSF at sites of allergic inflammation. Furthermore, the identification of GM-CSF production by human eosinophils suggests that the pro-inflammatory potential of this cell type may be substantially greater than hitherto recognized.
Moqbel
R
R
Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Heart & Lung Institute, London, United Kingdom.
Hamid
Q
Q
Ying
S
S
Barkans
J
J
Hartnell
A
A
Tsicopoulos
A
A
Wardlaw
A J
AJ
Kay
A B
AB
D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics
D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000001:Calcimycin; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor