title: Effects of rapamycin, cyclosporin A, and dexamethasone on interleukin 5-induced eosinophil degranulation and prolonged survival.
abstract: Interleukin-5 (IL-5) enhances eosinophil degranulation and prolongs eosinophil survival. Rapamycin, cyclosporin A, and dexamethasone have been shown to influence either cytokine transcription, cytokine-mediated signalling, or degranulation by granulocytes. The study aimed to determine whether these agents inhibited IL-5-enhanced eosinophil survival or degranulation. Peripheral blood eosinophils were isolated from atopic subjects. The effects of serial dilutions (10(-6)-10(-9) M) of these drugs or vehicle control on 1) the viability of eosinophils cultured (1-5 days) in the presence and absence of recombinant human IL-5, as measured by propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry, and 2) degranulation of eosinophils preincubated (45 min) with rhIL-5 or medium control, as measured by eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) release after stimulation with serum-coated Sephadex beads, were assessed. Dexamethasone and rapamycin produced significant, concentration-dependent inhibition of IL-5-enhanced eosinophil survival at pharmacologic concentrations, whereas cyclosporin A did not. Prior incubation of eosinophils with IL-5, as compared with medium control, significantly enhanced ECP release by eosinophils on subsequent exposure to serum-coated Sephadex beads. Cyclosporin A and rapamycin significantly inhibited IL-5-enhanced ECP release in a concentration-dependent fashion, whereas dexamethasone did not. All three drugs had no significant effect on eosinophil survival and degranulation in the absence of IL-5. Our results suggest that immunosuppressive drugs may inhibit IL-5-mediated mechanisms in eosinophils which result in enhanced survival and release of granule contents. These findings may be relevant to the further development of therapeutic strategies in allergic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Imperial College School of Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, London, UK.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ying
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Corrigan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wakelin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Assoufi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moqbel
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Kay
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011090:Polyenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012260:Ribonucleases; D020123:Sirolimus; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001798:Blood Proteins; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015848:Interleukin-5; D011090:Polyenes; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D003907:Dexamethasone; D016572:Cyclosporine; D012260:Ribonucleases; D020123:Sirolimus