Participation of CD11b and F4/80 molecules in the conjunctival eosinophilia of experimental allergic conjunctivitis.
BACKGROUND
CD11b and F4/80 are macrophage surface markers. How these molecules participate in allergic eosinophil infiltration remains unclear. We examined the roles CD11b and F4/80 play in the conjunctival eosinophil infiltration associated with experimental allergic conjunctivitis.


METHODS
Ragweed-immunized BALB/c mice were challenged with ragweed in eye drops to induce conjunctival eosinophil infiltration. The effect of challenge on conjunctival CD11b+ and F4/80+ cell numbers was determined by immunohistochemistry. In the same model, blocking anti-CD11b and anti-F4/80 Abs were injected intraperitoneally during the induction or the effector phase, or subconjunctivally 2 h before challenge, to determine their effect on challenge-induced conjunctival eosinophilia. To examine whether eosinophils express CD11b and F4/80 molecules, splenocytes from IL-5 gene-electroporated mice were subjected to flow cytometric analysis. To clarify the involvement of CD11b and F4/80 in conjunctival eosinophil infiltration, mice were intraperitoneally injected with anti-CD11b and anti-F4/80 Abs and then subconjunctivally injected with eotaxin to induce conjunctival eosinophilia.


RESULTS
Ragweed challenge elevated conjunctival CD11b+ and F4/80+ cell numbers. Systemic anti-CD11b and anti-F4/80 Ab treatments during the effector phase, but not in either the induction phase or the local injection of Ab, suppressed conjunctival eosinophil infiltration in ragweed-induced conjunctivitis. Most splenic eosinophils from IL-5 gene-introduced mice expressed CD11b and F4/80. Systemic anti-CD11b and anti-F4/80 Ab treatment suppressed conjunctival eosinophilia induced by subconjunctival eotaxin injection.


CONCLUSIONS
CD11b and F4/80 appear to participate in conjunctival eosinophil infiltration in allergic conjunctivitis. Their involvement in conjunctival eosinophilia appears to be due to their expression on eosinophils rather than on macrophages.
Fukushima
Atsuki
A
Department of Ophthalmology, Kochi Medical School, Nankoku, Japan. fukusima@kochi-u.ac.jp
Ishida
Waka
W
Ojima
Ayako
A
Kajisako
Mina
M
Sumi
Tamaki
T
Yamada
Jun
J
Tsuru
Emi
E
Miyazaki
Jun-ichi
J
Tominaga
Akira
A
Yagita
Hideo
H
D031164:Ambrosia / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D039481:CD11b Antigen / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002452:Cell Count; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D054413:Chemokine CCL11 / Q000494:pharmacology; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D047093:Eosinophil Major Basic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000235:genetics; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014611:Vaccination
D000906:Antibodies; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D039481:CD11b Antigen; C515457:Ccl11 protein, mouse; D054413:Chemokine CCL11; D015848:Interleukin-5; D007378:Interleukins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C036763:monocyte-macrophage differentiation antigen; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D047093:Eosinophil Major Basic Protein