title: Effects of ex vivo γ-tocopherol on airway macrophage function in healthy and mild allergic asthmatics.
abstract: Elevated inflammation and altered immune responses are features found in atopic asthmatic airways. Recent studies indicate γ-tocopherol (GT) supplementation can suppress airway inflammation in allergic asthma. We studied the effects of in vitro GT supplementation on receptor-mediated phagocytosis and expression of cell surface molecules associated with innate and adaptive immunity on sputum-derived macrophages. Cells from nonsmoking healthy (n = 6) and mild house dust mite-sensitive allergic asthmatics (n = 6) were treated ex vivo with GT (300 µM) or saline (control). Phagocytosis of opsonized zymosan A bioparticles (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and expression of surface molecules associated with innate and adaptive immunity were assessed using flow cytometry. GT caused significantly decreased (p < 0.05) internalization of attached zymosan bioparticles and decreased (p < 0.05) macrophage expression of CD206, CD36 and CD86 in allergic asthmatics but not in controls. Overall, GT caused downregulation of both innate and adaptive immune response elements, and atopic status appears to be an important factor.
authors.affiliation: Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, N.C., USA.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geiser
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lay
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Haibo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Peden
authors.forename: Neil E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Alexis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D051940:B7-2 Antigen / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D000090323:Mannose Receptor; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013183:Sputum / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology; D055815:Young Adult; D024504:gamma-Tocopherol / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D018955:CD36 Antigens; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D000090323:Mannose Receptor; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D014815:Vitamins; D024504:gamma-Tocopherol