Immunohistochemical detection of GM-CSF, IL-4 and IL-5 in a murine model of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.
BACKGROUND
Granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-5 are important in tissue eosinophil accumulation and high IgE production in allergic inflammatory reaction.


OBJECTIVE
We examine lung GM-CSF, IL-4 and IL-5 expression in a murine model of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) characterized by eosinophil and lymphocyte lung infiltration and elevated serum IgE level.


METHODS
C57BL/6 mice were intranasally treated three times a week for 1, 2 or 3 week(s) with Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) antigen or saline and were sacrificed on days 7, 14 and 21. Immunohistochemical analyses for GM-CSF, IL-4 and IL-5 were performed on lung sections.


RESULTS
Af treatment induced a remarkable pulmonary eosinophil influx. Increased numbers of lung T lymphocytes and GM-CSF positive cells were observed on days 14 and 21. IL-4 and IL-5 positive cells were increased significantly only on day 14. Immunostained serial sections showed that most (> or = 98%) cytokine positive cells were CD3 positive. Few eosinophils (< 2% of cytokine positive cells) were immunoreactive for GM-CSF and IL-5. Significant correlations were found between the number of GM-CSF and IL-5 positive cells, and the number of eosinophils in Af-treated lung (r = 0.62, P < 0.05 and r = 0.52, P < 0.05 respectively), and between the number of IL-4 positive cells and the serum total IgE level (r = 0.64, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest a role for T lymphocyte GM-CSF, IL-4 and IL-5 in Af-induced mouse pulmonary eosinophilia and increased serum IgE production and further support the importance of T helper (TH2) cells in the pathogenesis of ABPA.
Chu
H W
HW
Unité de Recherche, Hôpital Laval, Université Laval, Ste-Foy, Québec, Canada.
Wang
J M
JM
Boutet
M
M
Boulet
L P
LP
Laviolette
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001229:Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary / Q000276:immunology*; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008218:Lymphocytosis / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011657:Pulmonary Eosinophilia / Q000382:microbiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D017252:CD3 Complex; D015848:Interleukin-5; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor