Heterogeneity of human peripheral blood eosinophil-type colonies: evidence for a common basophil-eosinophil progenitor.
We have recently shown that a proportion of previously designated human eosinophil "(Eo)-type" colonies in methylcellulose contain basophils and histamine (Denburg et al Blood 61:775, 1983). In the present studies, individual Eo-type colonies have been analyzed by cell morphology as well as by biochemical assays for histamine, Charcot-Leyden crystal protein (CLC), and eosinophil granule major basic protein (MBP). Clonal origin of single Eo-type colonies was confirmed by G6PD isoenzyme analysis. Morphological observations of such colonies revealed the existence of two distinct colony types: (1) Eo type containing 100% basophils and (2) Eo type containing mixtures of basophils and eosinophils, including cells with mixed basophil-eosinophil granulation. Histamine was not detected in pure, mature peripheral blood eosinophils. Immunofluorescent studies demonstrated bright staining for CLC and MBP in 95% +/- 3% of cells in Eo-type colonies but only in 5% +/- 4% of cells in GM-type colonies. Radioimmunoassay for MBP was positive in 5/9 Eo-type and 0/10 neutrophil-macrophage ("GM-type") colonies, with a mean level (nanogram/colony) of 11.6 +/- 4.2 per Eo-type colony; four of the latter colonies were doubly positive for both histamine and MBP. These and previous findings point out the morphological and biochemical heterogeneity of peripheral blood Eo-type colonies and provide direct evidence for the existence of a common, circulating basophil-eosinophil progenitor.
J A
JA
Denburg
S
S
Telizyn
H
H
Messner
B
B
Lim
N
N
Jamal
S J
SJ
Ackerman
G J
GJ
Gleich
J
J
Bienenstock
D001491:Basophils / Q000166:cytology*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000097:blood; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D006632:Histamine / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000097:blood; D008245:Lysophospholipase; D008264:Macrophages; D008747:Methylcellulose; D009504:Neutrophils; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012260:Ribonucleases; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*
D001798:Blood Proteins; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006632:Histamine; D008747:Methylcellulose; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; D012260:Ribonucleases; D008245:Lysophospholipase; C011711:lysolecithin acylhydrolase