Cysteinyl leukotrienes acting via granule membrane-expressed receptors elicit secretion from within cell-free human eosinophil granules.
BACKGROUND
Cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs) are recognized to act via receptors (cysLTRs) expressed on cell surface plasma membranes. Agents that block cysLT(1) receptor (cysLT(1)R) are therapeutics for allergic disorders. Eosinophils contain multiple preformed proteins stored within their intracellular granules. Cell-free eosinophil granules are present extracellularly as intact membrane-bound organelles in sites associated with eosinophil infiltration, including asthma, rhinitis, and urticaria, but have unknown functional capabilities.


OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the expression of cysLTRs on eosinophil granule membranes and their functional roles in eliciting protein secretion from within eosinophil granules.


METHODS
We studied secretory responses of human eosinophil granules isolated by subcellular fractionation. Granules were stimulated with cysLTs, and eosinophil cationic protein and cytokines were measured in the supernatants. Receptor expression on granule membranes and eosinophils was evaluated by flow cytometry and Western blot.


RESULTS
We report that receptors for cysLTs, cysLT(1)R, cysLT(2) receptor, and the purinergic P2Y12 receptor, are expressed on eosinophil granule membranes. Leukotriene (LT) C(4) and extracellularly generated LTD(4) and LTE(4) stimulated isolated eosinophil granules to secrete eosinophil cationic protein. MRS 2395, a P2Y12 receptor antagonist, inhibited cysLT-induced eosinophil cationic protein release. Montelukast, likely not solely as an inhibitor of cysLT(1)R, inhibited eosinophil cationic protein release elicited by LTC(4) and LTD(4) as well as by LTE(4).


CONCLUSIONS
These studies identify previously unrecognized sites of localization, the membranes of intracellular eosinophil granule organelles, and function for cysLT-responsive receptors that mediate cysteinyl leukotriene-stimulated secretion from within eosinophil granules, including those present extracellularly.
Division of Allergy and Inflammation, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Josiane S
JS
Neves
Amy L
AL
Radke
Peter F
PF
Weller
D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002469:Cell Separation; D002474:Cell-Free System; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D003545:Cysteine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D015289:Leukotrienes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011804:Quinolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D018077:Receptors, Leukotriene / Q000378:metabolism*; D022142:Secretory Vesicles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013440:Sulfides
D000085:Acetates; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists; D015289:Leukotrienes; D011804:Quinolines; D018077:Receptors, Leukotriene; D013440:Sulfides; C112381:cysteinyl-leukotriene; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein; D003545:Cysteine; C093875:montelukast