In vivo detection of a novel macrophage-derived protein involved in the regulation of nasal mucus-like glycoconjugate secretion.
BACKGROUND
We recently described a novel 68 kd mucus secretagogue (MMS-68) derived from human monocytes, pulmonary macrophages, and a macrophage hybridoma, clone 63. We detected MMS-68 in monocyte culture supernatants from patients with steroid-dependent asthma and in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with chronic bronchitis by antigen capture ELISA and in normal lung tissue by immunohistochemistry.


METHODS
To determine a role for MMS-68 in the regulation of nasal mucus, we labeled human nasal turbinates with tritiated glucosamine and assayed for the ability of the previously purified MMS-68 (stock solution) to induce mucus-like glycoconjugate release (MLGC). We also performed immunohistochemistry stains with an anti-MMS-68 antibody (1-D-10) on frozen sections (n = 5) of nasal turbinates from patients with allergic and nonallergic rhinitis who were undergoing rhinoplasty and measured MMS-68 levels in nasal lavages from patients who were undergoing topical nasal histamine or methacholine challenge.


RESULTS
MMS-68 is a potent nasal MLGC secretagogue causing a dose-dependent increase in MLGC release in vitro. Staining revealed a subepithelial distribution for MMS-68. Antigen capture ELISA of nasal lavages demonstrated mean MMS-68 levels from saline control challenge of 0.9 +/- 0.5 micrograms MMS-68 per milligram of protein (n = 5), 8.6 +/- 1.4 micrograms MMS-68 per milligram of protein from histamine challenge and 20.7 +/- 2.3 micrograms MMS-68 per milligram of protein (n = 5) after methacholine challenge.


CONCLUSIONS
Taken together these data suggest that MMS-68 may play a role in the normal regulation of mucus secretion.
Sperber
K
K
Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY 10029.
Sylvester
C
C
Gollub
E
E
Goswami
S
S
Kalb
T H
TH
Druce
H
H
Rutledge
J
J
Marom
Z
Z
D000328:Adult; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005944:Glucosamine; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000378:metabolism*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000737:chemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D017817:Nasal Lavage Fluid; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D009299:Nasal Provocation Tests; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D014420:Turbinates / Q000378:metabolism
D006001:Glycoconjugates; D006023:Glycoproteins; C073416:MMS-68 protein, human; D005944:Glucosamine