Allergen induces the migration of platelets to lung tissue in allergic asthma.
BACKGROUND
Platelets are essential for pulmonary leukocyte recruitment, airway hyperresponsiveness, and bronchial remodeling in animals with allergic inflammation and can be found in bronchoalveolar lavage of sensitized animals. No studies, however, have explored the direct migration of platelets to lungs.


OBJECTIVE
To assess whether platelets migrate into lung parenchyma in response to inhaled allergen in ovalbumin-sensitized mice; to assess the role of the FcepsilonRI receptor in this phenomenon; and to evaluate whether platelets from patients with asthma, or from sensitized mice, undergo chemotaxis in vitro in response to relevant antigens.


METHODS
Ovalbumin-sensitized wild-type (WT) mice, or FcRgamma(-/-) mice lacking the FcepsilonRIgamma, were challenged with aerosolized allergen and lungs analyzed by platelet-specific immunohistochemistry. In some experiments, mice were depleted of platelets and cross-transfused with either WT or FcRgamma(-/-) platelets to assess the role of platelet FcRgamma(-/-). Chemotaxis of platelets from patients with asthma or from sensitized mice was studied in vitro.


RESULTS
Histology of lungs revealed isolated platelets, migrating out of vessels and localizing underneath the airways after allergen challenge in WT but not in FcRgamma(-/-) mice. Platelets from patients with asthma and from sensitized WT mice, but not from sensitized FcRgamma(-/-) mice, migrated in vitro toward the relevant allergen or an anti-IgE. Platelets from normal mice were found to express FcepsilonRIgamma and platelet-bound IgEs were increased in sensitized mice.


CONCLUSIONS
Platelets migrate extravascularly in response to a sensitizing allergen via a mechanism dependent on the interaction among allergen, allergen-specific IgE, and the FcepsilonRI, and this may allow them to participate directly in allergic tissue inflammation.
Pitchford
Simon C
SC
Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Internal and Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Perugia, Via E. dal Pozzo, I-06126 Perugia, Italy.
Momi
Stefania
S
Baglioni
Stefano
S
Casali
Lucio
L
Giannini
Silvia
S
Rossi
Roberta
R
Page
Clive P
CP
Gresele
Paolo
P
D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000502:physiology; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000276:immunology*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology*; D017455:Receptors, IgE / Q000378:metabolism
D000485:Allergens; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D017455:Receptors, IgE; C026408:anti-IgE antibodies; D010047:Ovalbumin