title: Expression of RANTES mRNA and protein in airways of patients with mild asthma.
abstract: Chemoattractant cytokines (chemokines) such as RANTES, are potent chemoattractants for eosinophils, T lymphocytes, and monocyte/macrophages. We examined RANTES mRNA and protein expression in bronchial biopsies and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells from patients with mild asthma on beta 2-adrenergic agonist therapy only. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), mean RANTES starting cDNA was 110 +/- 18 fg/pg beta-actin in asthmatics compared with 33.7 +/- 11.0 fg/pg in normals (p < 0.003) but there was no significant difference in RANTES mRNA expression in BAL cells between the two groups. Immunohistochemical staining of cryostat sections of bronchial biopsies with an anti-RANTES antibody using peroxidase antiperoxidase method revealed constitutive staining in airway epithelial cells, airway smooth muscle, and subepithelial cells. However, there was no difference in the number of RANTES-staining cells between normal subjects and asthmatics despite significantly increased numbers of CD4+ T-cells, CD68+ macrophages, and MBP+ eosinophils in mucosal biopsies obtained from asthmatics. Double-staining revealed expression of RANTES in a proportion of CD3+ T lymphocytes. Thus, RANTES is constitutively expressed in the airways and RANTES mRNA is elevated in airways of patients with mild asthma, supporting a role for RANTES in normal and asthmatic airways.
authors.affiliation: National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College of Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Berkman
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Krishnan
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gilbey
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis*; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D001980:Bronchi / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D002452:Cell Count; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000032:analysis; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger