The Journal of Immunology, Vol 132, Issue 4 1993-1999, Copyright © 1984 by American Association of Immunologists

ARTICLES

IgE immune complexes induce immediate and prolonged release of leukotriene C4 (LTC4) from rat alveolar macrophages

JA Rankin, M Hitchcock, WW Merrill, SS Huang, JR Brashler, MK Bach and PW Askenase

Alveolar macrophages obtained by lung lavage from rats were incubated with monoclonal mouse anti-DNP IgE and specific antigen (DNP-HSA) and were found to release a slow reacting substance (SRS), which was characterized by high performance liquid chromatography as leukotriene C4 (LTC)4. Alveolar macrophages incubated with 1 microM A23187 (calcium ionophore) released similar amounts of SRS (6.0 +/- 2.2 and 5.7 +/- 3.7 X 10(-10) mol of LTC4 per 5 X 10(6) alveolar macrophages, respectively). The optimal conditions and mechanism of LTC release by IgE and antigen were examined. LTC4 release was maximal when freshly retrieved alveolar macrophages were incubated for 20 min with 10 micrograms/ml IgE and then for 20 min with 100 ng/ml antigen or for 20 min with IgE and antigen that had been preincubated together for 30 min at room temperature. In addition, LTC4 release was maximal when cells were challenged with IgE and antigen in a protein-free balanced salt solution and when the cells were tumbled to prevent adherence. Dose response experiments revealed that macrophages released LTC4 when stimulated with as little as 10 ng IgE and 100 ng DNP-HSA. Alveolar macrophages did not release LTC when challenged with IgE or DNP-HSA alone. Activation of LTC4 release by IgE and antigen was rapid in onset (2.5 to 5 min), and washing to remove fluid phase IgE and antigen revealed that once activated, alveolar macrophages were capable of prolonged and continuous release of LTC4. Peritoneal lavage cells stimulated with IgE and antigen did not release SRS but could release SRS when incubated with A23187 (5.7 +/- 1.3 X 10(-10) mol LTC4/5 X 10(6) macrophages). A large variability existed between individual rats in the ability of their alveolar macrophages to be activated by IgE and antigen to release LTC4. DNP-HSA labeled with 125I was used to show formation of immune complexes of IgE and antigen when IgE and antigen were incubated together before macrophage challenge. IgE immune complexes containing as little as 2 ng of antigen elicited the release of LTC4 from alveolar macrophages. These data indicate that rat alveolar macrophages release primarily LTC4 when challenged with IgE immune complexes, and that the alveolar macrophage may differ in this respect from peritoneal macrophages that do not release detectable quantities of LTC4 when challenged under identical conditions.