title: Synergy between dexamethasone and interleukin-5 for the induction of major histocompatibility complex class II expression by human peripheral blood eosinophils.
abstract: The hematopoietic growth factors interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-5, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) regulate the survival, maturation, and activation of eosinophils. Corticosteroids in contrast have a negative effect both on the hematopoietic process and the function of eosinophils. We have unexpectedly observed synergy between IL-5 and glucocorticoids such as dexamethasone and hydrocortisone for induction of the MHC class II antigens HLA-DR and HLA-DP on eosinophils isolated from human blood. Similarly glucocorticoids enhanced GM-CSF and IL-3, but not interferon gamma (IFN gamma), induced expression of these antigens. Expression of a third MHC class II molecule, HLA-DQ, was not induced on eosinophils by any of the cytokines alone, but in one of three donors tested, IL-3 plus dexamethasone induced high levels of expression. Although cytokine-induced expression of the accessory molecule intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) was partially inhibited by glucocorticoids, cytokine- and dexamethasone-treated eosinophils presented antigen more efficiently to a hemagglutinin peptide-specific T-cell clone than eosinophils treated with cytokine alone. These results highlight a potential new role for endogenous or exogenous glucocorticoid hormones in enhancing MHC class II expression by eosinophils.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, St Mary's Hospital Medical School, Paddington, London, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guida
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: O'Hehir
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hawrylowicz
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D006682:HLA-DP Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics
chemical_list: D006682:HLA-DP Antigens; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007377:Interleukin-3; D015848:Interleukin-5; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D003907:Dexamethasone; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor