title: The production of the eosinophil proteins ECP and EPX/EDN are regulated in a reciprocal manner.
abstract: Previous studies showed that the biological activity and the eosinophil content of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP, RNase 3) are determined by single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ECP (RNase3) gene. In this study, we report the prevalence of a common SNP in the eosinophil protein x/eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EPX/EDN, RNase2) and the association with the cellular contents of EPX/EDN and ECP. The genes were sequenced and the EPX/EDN405(G>C) rs2013109 SNPs were also determined by TaqMan 5′nuclease allelic discrimination assay. ECP and EPX/EDN in purified eosinophils or in whole blood extracts were analysed by sensitive immunoassays. The study included 379 non-allergic and allergic subjects. The genotype prevalence of the EPX/EDN405(G>C) polymorphism was GG 59%, GC 36% and CC 6%. The cellular contents of ECP and EPX/EDN were related in a reciprocal fashion with the sums of the protein contents being constant. The contents were associated with the ECP562(G>C) rs2233860 and EPX/EDN405(G>C) gene polymorphisms. The cellular content of eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) was not associated with the ECP and EPX/EDN genotypes. The prevalence of the EPX/EDN405(G>C) genotypes and the contents of the proteins were similar in non-allergic and allergic subjects.The production and storage of the two ancestral proteins, ECP and EPX/EDN likely share common regulatory mechanisms, which result in opposing productions of the two proteins.
authors.forename: Ulla-Britt
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Jönsson
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blom
authors.forename: Gunnemar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stålenheim
authors.forename: Lena Douhan
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Håkansson
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Venge
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D047208:Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D047208:Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein; C479220:RNASE3 protein, human; C479221:RNASE2 protein, human