Eotaxin selectively binds heparin. An interaction that protects eotaxin from proteolysis and potentiates chemotactic activity in vivo.
An important feature of chemokines is their ability to bind to the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) side chains of proteoglycans, predominately heparin and heparan sulfate. To date, all chemokines tested bind to immobilized heparin in vitro, as well as cell surface heparan sulfate in vitro and in vivo. These interactions play an important role in modulating the action of chemokines by facilitating the formation of stable chemokine gradients within the vascular endothelium and directing leukocyte migration, by protecting chemokines from proteolysis, by inducing chemokine oligomerization, and by facilitating transcytosis. Despite the importance of eotaxin in eosinophil differentiation and recruitment being well established, little is known about the interaction between eotaxin and GAGs and the functional consequences of such an interaction. Here we report that eotaxin binds selectively to immobilized heparin with high affinity (K(d) = 1.23 x 10(-8) M), but not to heparan sulfate or a range of other GAGs. The interaction of eotaxin with heparin does not promote eotaxin oligomerization but protects eotaxin from proteolysis directly by plasmin and indirectly by cathepsin G and elastase. In vivo, co-administration of eotaxin and heparin is able to significantly enhance eotaxin-mediated eosinophil recruitment in a mouse air-pouch model. Furthermore, when heparin is co-administered with eotaxin at a concentration that does not normally result in eosinophil infiltration, eosinophil recruitment occurs. In contrast, heparin does not enhance eotaxin-mediated eosinophil chemotaxis in vitro, suggesting protease protection or haptotactic gradient formation as the mechanism by which heparin enhances eotaxin action in vivo. These results suggest a role for mast cell-derived heparin in the recruitment of eosinophils, reinforcing Th2 polarization of inflammatory responses.
Ellyard
Julia I
JI
Cancer and Vascular Biology Group, Division of Immunology and Genetics, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Building 54, Garran Road, Acton, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia.
Simson
Ljubov
L
Bezos
Anna
A
Johnston
Kellie
K
Freeman
Craig
C
Parish
Christopher R
CR
D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D056649:Cathepsin G; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000378:metabolism; D054413:Chemokine CCL11; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005341:Fibrinolysin / Q000378:metabolism; D006493:Heparin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006497:Heparan Sulfate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008954:Models, Biological; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000187:drug effects; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D000925:Anticoagulants; D056649:Cathepsin G; D002403:Cathepsins; D054413:Chemokine CCL11; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D005341:Fibrinolysin; D006493:Heparin; D006497:Heparan Sulfate; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C515457:Ccl11 protein, mouse; C534096:Ctsg protein, mouse