title: Apoptosis in human germinal centre B cells by means of CC chemokine receptor 3 expression induced by interleukin-2 and interleukin-4.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  CC chemokine receptor 3 (CCR3), expressed on some inflammatory cells, is a member of the chemokine receptor family. Its ligand is eotaxin/CCL11. In this research, we studied the expression and function of CCR3 induced by interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) on human germinal centre (GC) B cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cells isolated from human tonsils were stimulated with IL-2 or/and IL-4 followed by bonding with eotaxin/CCL11. Flow cytometry was used to detect expression of CCR3 on GC B cells and apoptosis of GC B cells. Real time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Northern blot assays were used to analyse the CCR3 mRNA expressed in the GC B cells. Chemotaxis and adhesion assays were used to determine the effect of eotaxin/CCL11 ligand bonded to CCR3 on GC B cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no CCR3 expression on human freshly isolated GC B cells. The combination IL-2 and IL-4 could upregulate CCR3 mRNA and protein expression on GC B cells. Eotaxin could not induce GC B cell chemotaxis and adhesion but triggered apoptosis of GC B cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-2 and IL-4 together induced expression of CCR3 on GC B cells, and the receptor acted as a death receptor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan 430071, China.
authors.forename: Qiu-ping
authors.initials: QP
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Luo-kun
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Li-jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jin-quan
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D054397:Receptors, CCR3; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C515350:CCR3 protein, human; D007376:Interleukin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D054397:Receptors, CCR3; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D015847:Interleukin-4