title: Modulatory effects of N-acetyl-L-cysteine on human eosinophil apoptosis.
abstract: Eosinophils are oxidant-sensitive cells considered relevant in allergic inflammation. The present study aimed to examine the effects of the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) on constitutive and cytokine-delayed apoptosis in human isolated eosinophils. Human eosinophils were purified from the blood of healthy donors by a magnetic separation system. Apoptosis and cellular glutathione were assessed by cytofluorometric analysis and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB binding activity assessed by electrophoresis mobility shift assay. The rate of spontaneous apoptosis of human eosinophils after 24 h culture, as assessed by annexin-V-positive staining, was mean+/-sem 48.2+/-1.4%, n = 5. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF; 10 ng.mL(-1)) decreased apoptosis to 19.4+/-1.8%, n = 5. NAC (5 mM) inhibited spontaneous apoptosis (33.6+/-2.7%, n = 5) but augmented apoptosis in the presence of GM-CSF (30.9+/-1.5%, n = 5). NAC (5 mM) also increased the rate of apoptosis in the presence of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (10 ng.mL(-1)) and interleukin-5 (5 ng.mL(-1)). NAC (5 mM) increased eosinophil glutathione content. The increase in eosinophil NF-kappaB binding activity induced by GM-CSF and TNF-alpha was suppressed by NAC. In conclusion, N-acetylcysteine modulates eosinophil apoptosis by inhibiting constitutive apoptosis but reversing the survival effect produced by inflammatory cytokines in human eosinophils.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Avenida Blasco Ibáñez 15, E-46010 València, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martinez-Losa
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cortijo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Juan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramón
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Morcillo
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000378:metabolism; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000494:pharmacology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D017304:Annexin A5; D000975:Antioxidants; D015848:Interleukin-5; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D005978:Glutathione; D000111:Acetylcysteine