Differential expression of CCR3 ligand mRNA in guinea pig lungs during allergen-induced inflammation.
OBJECTIVE
The gene expression profile of CCR3 ligands, eotaxin, RANTES, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-3 (MCP-3), was examined in normal and inflamed guinea pig lungs.


METHODS
Male Hartley guinea pigs (n = 49).


METHODS
Pulmonary mRNA was obtained from naive animals, animals treated with intravenous lipopolysaccharide administration, and animals repeatedly exposed to aerosolized allergen (ovalbumin). Northern analysis was performed to quantify pulmonary expression of eotaxin, RANTES, and MCP-3 mRNA. Pulmonary eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) activity was measured to quantify eosinophil accumulation.


RESULTS
Eotaxin and RANTES mRNAs, but not MCP-3 mRNA, were constitutively expressed in guinea pig lungs. Lipopolysaccharide treatment increased MCP-3 mRNA expression, but not eotaxin or RANTES mRNA. In contrast, allergen exposure in sensitized animals caused an increase in eotaxin mRNA, which demonstrated good temporal and quantitative correlation with pulmonary EPO activity, but not in MCP-3 or RANTES mRNA.


CONCLUSIONS
Guinea pig CCR3 ligands demonstrated different gene expression profiles in normal and inflamed airways, suggesting that they play different physiological and pathophysiological roles in the airway.
Asano
K
K
Cardiopulmonary Division, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. ko-asano@qa2.so-net.ne.jp
Nakamura
M
M
Oguma
T
T
Fukunaga
K
K
Matsubara
H
H
Shiomi
T
T
Ishizaka
A
A
Yamaguchi
K
K
Kanazawa
M
M
D000485:Allergens; D000818:Animals; D054413:Chemokine CCL11; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D054410:Chemokine CCL7; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016207:Cytokines; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000201:enzymology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D018945:Monocyte Chemoattractant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D054397:Receptors, CCR3; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D000485:Allergens; D054413:Chemokine CCL11; D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D054410:Chemokine CCL7; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D016207:Cytokines; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D018945:Monocyte Chemoattractant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D054397:Receptors, CCR3; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D010544:Peroxidases