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The Journal of Immunology, 2002, 169: 6452-6458.
Copyright © 2002 by The American Association of Immunologists

Decreased Expression of Membrane IL-5 Receptor {alpha} on Human Eosinophils: I. Loss of Membrane IL-5 Receptor {alpha} on Airway Eosinophils and Increased Soluble IL-5 Receptor {alpha} in the Airway After Allergen Challenge1

Lin Ying Liu*, Julie B. Sedgwick*, Mary Ellen Bates{ddagger}, Rose F. Vrtis*, James E. Gern§, Hirohita Kita, Nizar N. Jarjour{dagger}, William W. Busse* and Elizabeth A. B. Kelly2,{dagger}

* Allergy and Immunology and {dagger} Pulmonary and Critical Care Sections of Department of Medicine, and Departments of {ddagger} Biomolecular Chemistry and § Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53792; and Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
IL-5 is a key cytokine for eosinophil maturation, recruitment, activation, and possibly the development of inflammation in asthma. High concentrations of IL-5 are present in the airway after Ag challenge, but the responsiveness of airway eosinophils to IL-5 is not well characterized. The objectives of this study were to establish, following airway Ag challenge: 1) the expression of membrane (m)IL-5R{alpha} on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) eosinophils; 2) the responsiveness of these cells to exogenous IL-5; and 3) the presence of soluble (s)IL-5R{alpha} in BAL fluid. To accomplish these goals, blood and BAL eosinophils were obtained from atopic subjects 48 h after segmental bronchoprovocation with Ag. There was a striking reduction in mIL-5R{alpha} on airway eosinophils compared with circulating cells. Furthermore, sIL-5R{alpha} concentrations were elevated in BAL fluid, but steady state levels of sIL-5R{alpha} mRNA were not increased in BAL compared with blood eosinophils. Finally, BAL eosinophils were refractory to IL-5 for ex vivo degranulation, suggesting that the reduction in mIL-5R{alpha} on BAL eosinophils may regulate IL-5-mediated eosinophil functions. Together, the loss of mIL-5R{alpha}, the presence of sIL-5R{alpha}, and the blunted functional response (degranulation) of eosinophils to IL-5 suggest that when eosinophils are recruited to the airway, regulation of their functions becomes IL-5 independent. These observations provide a potential explanation for the inability of anti-IL-5 therapy to suppress airway hyperresponsiveness to inhaled Ag, despite a reduction in eosinophil recruitment.


    Introduction
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 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Following airway allergen exposure, eosinophils and eosinophil-derived granule proteins increase in sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)3 fluid, and bronchial mucosa (1, 2). The development of airway eosinophilia is associated with increased IL-5 expression in the airway mucosa, elevated concentrations of IL-5 in luminal fluid (3) and serum (4), and a heightened capacity of airway cells for ex vivo generation of IL-5 (5, 6). Collectively, these events suggest an important relationship between IL-5 and airway eosinophils, and presumably, the development of allergic inflammation.

IL-5 is unquestionably an important factor in eosinophil maturation, differentiation, survival, and activation (1). In mouse models of Ag-induced airway inflammation, the significance of IL-5 to eosinophilopoiesis in the bone marrow, release of eosinophils into the circulation, and their recruitment to the airway in response to Ag sensitization has been clearly demonstrated in mice made deficient in IL-5 or IL-5R through genetic deficiency (7, 8), and by administration of anti-IL-5 Abs (9) or antisense oligodeoxynucleotides for IL-5R{alpha} (10). Studies in humans have demonstrated that ex vivo exposure of peripheral blood eosinophils to IL-5 can induce eosinophil activation, as indicated by enhanced integrin-mediated adhesion, expression of membrane receptors, chemotactic responses, release of eosinophil-derived cytokines and mediators (11), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation (12). The characteristics of these IL-5-stimulated blood eosinophils are mimicked in vivo by BAL eosinophils recruited following airway Ag challenge. For example, compared with cells in the circulation, airway eosinophils have heightened release of toxic oxygen species (13), enhanced ex vivo survival (13), increased activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases ERK1 and ERK2 (14), and a greater expression of activation markers (15). The contribution of IL-5 to these features in vivo and the localization of potential IL-5-mediated eosinophil activation events await further characterization.

Regulation of IL-5-mediated eosinophil activation is even less well characterized. Because of the potential release of toxic granules when eosinophils are activated, it is likely that compensatory mechanisms have developed to limit IL-5-mediated eosinophil activation. Several mechanisms can be envisioned, including IL-5-specific desensitization of its receptor or the presence of neutralizing factors such as soluble (s)IL-5R. Ex vivo exposure of blood eosinophils to IL-5, GM-CSF, or IL-3 leads to decreased expression of IL-5R{alpha} mRNA (16). This effect would presumably result in lower membrane (m)IL-5R{alpha} on the cell surface; however, this has not been documented. rsIL-5R{alpha} has been produced as a potential antagonist for IL-5-mediated functions (17). In vitro studies have demonstrated that rsIL-5R{alpha} prevents the association of IL-5 with mIL-5R{alpha} (18), and thus acts as an antagonist to inhibit IL-5-mediated signal transduction (18), survival (18), and maturation/differentiation of eosinophils (19). In asthma, mIL-5R{alpha} and sIL-5R{alpha} mRNA-positive cells are present in the bronchial mucosa. Airway obstruction is associated with increased numbers of mIL-5R{alpha} mRNA+ cells and decreased numbers of cells expressing sIL-5R{alpha} mRNA (20). Consequently, it has been suggested that sIL-5R{alpha} may have a protective role in asthma. However, to date, the presence and biological importance of sIL-5R{alpha} in the airway or any human fluids have not been explored.

The following studies were performed to compare mIL-5R{alpha} expression in human airway and circulating eosinophils and to explore the possibility that the IL-5 antagonist, sIL-5R{alpha}, is present in the airway following airway Ag challenge. To accomplish these goals, airway eosinophilia was induced by segmental bronchoprovocation with Ag (SBP-Ag) in atopic subjects. Eosinophil cell surface expression of mIL-5R{alpha} was determined by flow cytometric analysis; steady state levels of soluble and membrane IL-5R{alpha} transcripts were determined by RT-PCR with Southern blot analysis; and the concentration of sIL-5R{alpha} in BAL fluid was evaluated by ELISA.


    Materials and Methods
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Subjects and bronchoscopic procedures

To determine levels of IL-5 and sIL-5R{alpha}, BAL fluid was obtained from 25 atopic subjects before and after SBP-Ag. Subject characteristics are provided in Table IGo. In addition, in subjects 14–25, BAL eosinophils were obtained for analysis of mIL-5R{alpha} and mGM-CSFR{alpha} by flow cytometry. Abs became available for the {beta}-chain ({beta}c) after the completion of the IL-5R{alpha} studies; therefore, an additional six subjects were recruited for analysis of membrane expression of {beta}c in relation to mIL-5R{alpha} and mGM-CSFR{alpha}. Studies were approved by the University of Wisconsin Health Sciences Human Subjects Committee, and informed consent was obtained from all subjects before participation.


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Table 1. Subject characteristicsa

 
Ag dose for SBP was defined as previously described (3). Briefly, consecutively higher concentrations of Ag were inhaled until forced expiratory volume in 1 s fell by 36 20% from baseline (21) and then the provocative dose of Ag resulting in a 20% drop in lung function was calculated (PD20; Madison Scientific Software, Wexford, PA). SBP and BAL were performed, as previously described (22), with the following modifications. Two different bronchopulmonary segments were identified for SBP-Ag. For each segment, a wedge position was achieved by the fiberoptic bronchoscope and a baseline BAL was performed. Ag was instilled into each segment through the wedged bronchoscope. One segment received a dose equal to 10% of the the provocative dose of Ag resulting in a 20% drop in lung function. If this dose was well tolerated, a second segment was challenged with a dose of 20%. After 48 h, bronchoscopy was repeated and BAL was performed on each of the two previously challenged segments. BAL fluid from the two Ag-challenged segments was pooled for analysis of fluid and cells. Heparinized venous blood (120 ml) was drawn into 60-cc syringes immediately before each bronchoscopy.

Analysis of BAL fluid

BAL cells were recovered from the lavage fluid by centrifugation at 400 x g for 10 min at 4°C, then washed twice with HBSS containing 2% newborn calf serum (NCS). Total BAL cell numbers were determined by hemacytometer using Turk’s counting solution containing acetic acid and methylene blue. For differential cell counts, cytospin preparations of BAL cells were stained with the Giemsa’s-based Diff-Quik stain (Baxter Scientific Products, McGaw Park, IL). BAL cells were used for flow cytometric analysis and to obtain purified eosinophils. BAL fluids were stored at -70°C until analyzed.

Protein measurements

A sensitive two-step sandwich-type ELISA was developed to measure sIL-5R{alpha} in 20x concentrated BAL fluids. Half-area well ELISA plates (Corning, Corning, NY) were coated overnight at 4°C with a predetermined optimal concentration of purified monoclonal anti-human IL-5R{alpha} (clone A17; BD PharMingen, San Diego, CA). Nonspecific binding sites were blocked with 10% dialyzed NCS. Test samples were incubated overnight at 4°C on Ab-coated plates, and sIL-5R{alpha} was detected with a biotinylated goat anti-human IL-5R{alpha} polyclonal Ab (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN). Streptavidin conjugated to a HRP polymer (POLY-HRP-40; Research Diagnostics, Flanders, NJ) was used to increase assay sensitivity. A one-component substrate, 3,3',5'5'-tetramethylbenzidine (Kirkegaard & Perry Laboratories, Gaithersburg, MD), was used for color development, and the reaction was stopped by addition of 0.18 M sulfuric acid. OD at 450 nm was determined with a Dynatech MR500 microplate reader, and data were analyzed with Biolink Software (Dynatech Laboratories, Chantilly, VA). The concentration of sIL-5R{alpha} in BAL fluids was calculated by comparison with a standard curve generated with known amounts of human rsIL-5R{alpha} (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO). The assay sensitivity for sIL-5R{alpha} was <=12 pg/ml. IL-5 was also measured by a two-step ELISA, as previously described (6). The coating Abs and biotinylated detection Abs were purchased from BD PharMingen. The sensitivity for IL-5 was <=3 pg/ml.

Eosinophil purification

BAL eosinophils were purified by a modified Percoll gradient. BAL cells (50 x 106/5 ml HBSS without calcium + 2% NCS) were carefully layered over a 1.085/1.100 g/ml Percoll gradient and centrifuged for 20 min at 700 x g. Eosinophils were collected from the 1.085/1.100 g/ml interface. In selected experiments, BAL eosinophils were compared with purified blood eosinophils, which were isolated by negative selection using immunomagnetic beads (23). For both purified BAL and blood eosinophils, viability was >97% and purity was >98%.

Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) analysis

Isolated peripheral blood and BAL eosinophils (1 x 106/ml) were activated with 1 ng/ml of IL-5 or GM-CSF in medium containing HBSS supplemented with 0.03% gelatin (HBSS/gel; Sigma-Aldrich) for 4 h at 37°C. The cell-free supernatant fluids were frozen at -20°C until EDN was measured by RIA (24). The sensitivity for EDN was 2 ng/ml. Total cellular EDN was determined from parallel cultures to which an equal volume of 1% Triton X-100 in 0.1 N HCl was added.

Flow cytometric analysis

For initial analysis of cell surface receptors, eosinophils were stained in whole blood (100 µl) and nonpurified BAL preparations (1 x 105 cells). Ab included PE-conjugated mAb to IL-5R{alpha} (CD125; BD PharMingen), the {beta}c (CD131; eBioscience, San Diego, CA), and FITC anti-GM-CSFR{alpha} (CD116; BD PharMingen). For analysis, 10,000 events were collected using a BD Biosciences FACScan II, and data analyses were performed using CellQuest software (BD Biosciences). An electronic eosinophil region (R1) within the forward and side scatter plot was established by backgating on FITC-CD45 bright, PE-autofluorescent cells (25). The majority of cells within this forward and side scatter gate are eosinophils. Nonetheless, all test samples contained a FITC- or PE-labeled anti-CD16 and anti-CD14 cocktail, which allowed for further electronic exclusion of any contaminating neutrophils and monocytes, respectively. To determine the percentage of positive cells, dot blots were created based on R1, and a tight electronic gate (R2) was set to encompass only the eosinophils in the isotype control sample. A larger region, R3, was drawn to include the isotype control and all positive eosinophils. Cells were considered positive if there was an electronic shift out of the R2 isotype control region and into R3. Thus, the percentage of positive eosinophils was determined as (1 - (R2/R3)) x 100.

RT-PCR for detection of IL-5R{alpha} mRNA

Total RNA was extracted from eosinophil cell pellets using a one-step phenol/chloroform extraction reagent (Tri Reagent; Sigma-Aldrich). The total RNA was treated with DNase (RQ1 RNase-free DNase; Promega, Madison, WI) to degrade DNA, and cDNA was synthesized, as previously described (26). PCR was performed by transferring 4 µl of cDNA to a 650 µl thin-walled PCR tube along with 2.5 U platinum Taq (Invitrogen Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA), 5 µl 10x PCR buffer, 0. 01 µM dNTPs, 50 mM MgCl2, and 0.2 µM of primer in a final volume of 50 µl. A forward primer specific for mIL-5R{alpha}, position 1033–1056, and two different reverse primers, sIL-5R{alpha} at position 1279–1298 and mIL-5R{alpha} at position 1542–1564, were constructed using published sequences (17). Primers for amplification of GAPDH mRNA were as previously described (26). Upstream and downstream primers were separated by introns so that any genomic DNA amplified by these procedures could be discriminated from cDNA based on size. The predicted size of cDNA fragments was 266 bp for sIL-5R{alpha} and 527 bp for mIL-5R{alpha}. PCR was conducted with the following protocol: 94°C for 2 min, then 24 cycles of 96°C for 30 s, 60°C for 30 s, and 72°C for 30 s. The number of PCR cycles (24) was optimized to maintain a linear relationship between mRNA and PCR products. Controls included in each PCR run included samples containing reagents with no cells and samples that had not been transcribed. A DNA probe (205 bp, position 1033–1237) for both forms of IL-5R{alpha} was synthesized and labeled with HRP, and PCR products were detected by Southern blot analysis (ECL system; Amersham, Piscataway, NJ).

GAPDH mRNA was analyzed in parallel with IL-5R{alpha} mRNA to assess consistency of RNA preparations. GAPDH mRNA levels were quantitated by a competitive PCR (cPCR) ELISA. cDNA competitors consisting of nonsense DNA flanked by GAPDH-specific primers were added to test samples in graded quantities to compete with native cDNA for primer binding (27). cPCR was then performed with a biotinylated forward primer to end label the PCR product for analysis by ELISA. To perform the DNA ELISA, the biotinylated PCR product was denatured and added to a 96-well streptavidin-coated plate. PCR products were detected by hybridization with a fluorescein-labeled probe (28), followed by incubation with an anti-fluorescein Ab conjugated to aequorin (Aqualite; Chemicon, Temecula, CA) (29). Upon addition of calcium ions, blue light is emitted and detected in a microplate luminometer. The concentration of the sample is calculated by plotting the sample/competitor signal ratio against the concentration of the competitor: when the ratio equals one, then the concentrations are equal. The RT-cPCR ELISA was found to be linear and reproducible, with a coefficient of variation of 10%.

The relative amount of IL-5R{alpha} mRNA was normalized to GAPDH. The band intensity of the IL-5R{alpha} mRNA species was determined from the Southern blots and given as arbitrary units. These units were then divided by the amount of GAPDH mRNA calculated from the RT-cPCR ELISA to give the ratio of sIL-5R{alpha}/GAPDH or mIL-5R{alpha}/GAPDH.

Statistical analysis

Statistical analysis was performed using the SigmaStat software package (Jandel Scientific Software, San Rafael, CA). Data are expressed as medians with 25 and 75 interquartiles (or the mean ± SEM for normally distributed data). The Wilcoxon signed rank test (or a paired t test for normally distributed data) was used to compare different time points to 0 h or to compare data obtained at baseline and 48 h after SBP-Ag. Correlations were made using Spearman rank order correlation test. A p value of <0.05 was considered significant.


    Results
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 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Detection of cell surface mIL-5R{alpha} on BAL eosinophils following airway Ag challenge

Forty-eight hours after SBP-Ag challenge, both eosinophil percentage (Table IIGo) and number in BAL fluids were markedly increased (54.4 ± 3.8% and 131.5 ± 29.9 x 104/ml BAL fluid, mean ± SE) compared with baseline (1.2 ± 0.4% and 0.01 ± 0.00 x 104/ml BAL fluid, n = 25, p < 0.001). The expression of mIL-5R{alpha} on peripheral blood (0 and 48 h after Ag challenge) and BAL (48 h) eosinophils was determined by flow cytometry. Analysis of mGM-CSFR{alpha} was also performed because IL-5 and GM-CSF have overlapping functions and the {beta}c subunit of their receptors is identical. Both the percentage of mIL-5R{alpha}-positive eosinophils (Fig. 1GoA) and the amount of cell surface mIL-5R{alpha} (Fig. 1Go, B and C) were significantly diminished on BAL (48 h) compared with peripheral blood eosinophils obtained either before (0 h) or 48 h after Ag challenge. In addition, {beta}c, which was expressed on 100% of circulating eosinophils both at 0 and 48 h after Ag challenge, was markedly reduced on BAL eosinophils (Fig. 1Go, DF). mGM-CSFR{alpha} was expressed on nearly 100% of peripheral blood and BAL eosinophils (Fig. 1GoG), and, in contrast to mIL-5R{alpha} and {beta}c, the relative intensity of mGM-CSFR{alpha} staining was significantly augmented on BAL compared with peripheral blood eosinophils (Fig. 1Go, H and I). BAL eosinophils could not be evaluated at baseline due to the small numbers of available cells.


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Table 2. BAL cell numbers and differentiala

 


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FIGURE 1. mIL-5R{alpha} expression on blood and BAL eosinophils after Ag challenge. Expression of cell surface mIL-5R{alpha}, mGM-CSFR{alpha}, and {beta}c was analyzed by flow cytometric analysis of blood (0 and 48 h) and BAL (48 h) eosinophils obtained after Ag challenge. Data represent percentage of eosinophils positive for mIL-5R{alpha} (A), median channel fluorescence for mIL-5R{alpha} (B), and a representative histogram for mIL-5R{alpha} (C); percentage of eosinophils positive for {beta}c (D), median channel fluorescence for {beta}c (E), and a representative histogram for {beta}c (F); and percentage of eosinophils positive for mGM-CSFR{alpha} (G), median channel fluorescence for mGM-CSFR{alpha} (H), and a representative histogram for mGM-CSFR{alpha} (I). Group data shown for mIL-5R{alpha} (n = 12), mGM-CSFR{alpha} (n = 12), and {beta}c (n = 6) are depicted as box plots with medians (bar) within quartiles of 25 and 75 (limits of box). Histograms (C, F, and I) depict data from peripheral blood (dark gray), BAL (black) eosinophils, or isotype control Ab (light gray) stained for mIL-5R{alpha} (C), {beta}c (F), or mGM-CSFR{alpha} (I).

 
Detection of sIL-5R{alpha} in BAL fluid and the relationships between BAL fluid levels of sIL-5R{alpha}, IL-5, and eosinophil numbers 48 h after Ag challenge

Concomitant with the reduction of cell surface mIL-5R{alpha} (Fig. 1GoA), BAL fluid concentrations of sIL-5R{alpha} were significantly elevated 48 h after Ag challenge when compared with baseline values (Fig. 2GoA). Moreover, there was a strong positive correlation (Spearman’s correlation coefficient (rs) = 0.741, p < 0.001) between the levels of sIL-5R{alpha} in BAL fluid and the number of BAL eosinophils 48 h after Ag challenge (Fig. 2GoB). The levels of sIL-5R{alpha} also correlated (rs = 0.731, p < 0.001) with IL-5 concentrations in BAL fluid (Fig. 2GoC).



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FIGURE 2. sIL-5R{alpha} concentrations in BAL fluid and correlation between BAL fluid sIL-5R{alpha} and BAL eosinophils or BAL fluid IL-5. sIL-5R{alpha} was measured in 20x concentrated BAL fluid (n = 25), and data are expressed as the calculated amount of sIL-5R{alpha} in 1x BAL fluid (A). Boxes represent medians within quartiles of 25 and 75. Following Ag challenge, there was a significant correlation between the levels of sIL-5R{alpha} in BAL fluid and B, numbers of BAL eosinophils (rs = 0.741, p < 0.001) and C, BAL fluid levels of IL-5 (rs = 0.731, p < 0.001).

 
Validation of ELISA for detection of sIL-5R{alpha} and IL-5 in BAL fluid and flow cytometric assay for detection of cell surface mIL-5R{alpha}

Because IL-5 is present in BAL fluid following Ag challenge (6), it was necessary to determine whether IL-5 interferes with the ability to accurately measure mIL-5R{alpha} and sIL-5R{alpha}. For the sIL-5R{alpha} ELISA, addition of high concentrations of IL-5 (10 ng/ml) to sIL-5R{alpha} standard had no effect on sIL-5R{alpha} detection (Fig. 3GoA), suggesting that IL-5 in BAL fluid did not interfere with measurement of sIL-5R{alpha}. Furthermore, a high concentration of sIL-5R{alpha} (10 ng/ml) had no effect on the detection of IL-5 standard in the IL-5 ELISA (Fig. 3GoB). For flow cytometric analysis, it was also necessary to exclude the possibility that prior binding of endogenous IL-5 in BAL fluid to airway eosinophils blocked the detection of mIL-5R{alpha}. To evaluate this possibility, increasing concentrations of rIL-5 were added to peripheral blood eosinophils before staining of mIL-5R{alpha}. Even at concentrations of 10 ng/ml IL-5, there was no significant effect on detection of mIL-5R{alpha} by flow cytometric analysis (Fig. 3GoC).



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FIGURE 3. Validation of assays. A, Detection of sIL-5R{alpha} by ELISA in the presence (•) and absence ({circ}) of 10 ng/ml IL-5. B, Detection of IL-5R by ELISA in the presence (•) and absence ({circ}) of 10 ng/ml sIL-5R{alpha}. C, Detection of mIL-5R{alpha} by flow cytometric analysis following preincubation of blood eosinophils with increasing concentrations of IL-5. Data for each graph represent mean ± SE of three different experiments.

 
Comparison of IL-5R{alpha} mRNA in BAL and peripheral blood eosinophils

The regulation of IL-5R{alpha} and IL-5R{alpha} mRNA in human blood eosinophils by the IL-5-family cytokines was previously reported by Wang et al. (16). However, the expression of mRNA for these receptor subunits in airway eosinophils has not been studied. Because there were not sufficient numbers of BAL eosinophils present in the airway before Ag challenge, mRNA levels in purified BAL eosinophils obtained 48 h after Ag challenge were compared with peripheral blood eosinophils obtained from the same subject immediately before the post-Ag BAL. sIL-5R{alpha} and mIL-5R{alpha} mRNA were measured by RT-PCR, and the identity of PCR products was confirmed by Southern blot analysis using sIL-5R{alpha}- and mIL-5R{alpha}-specific probes. The housekeeping gene, GAPDH, was determined by an RT-PCR competitive ELISA-type assay. No enhanced expression of IL-5R{alpha} mRNA was discernible in any of the four BAL samples relative to the expression in the peripheral blood samples (Fig. 4Go). In fact, when the levels of IL-5R{alpha} mRNA were expressed as a ratio to GAPDH (as indicated by the number below each blot), there was a noticeable decrease in both sIL-5R{alpha} and mIL-5R{alpha} in BAL compared with blood eosinophils in two of the four subjects.



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FIGURE 4. Expression of mRNA for IL-5R{alpha} in blood and airway eosinophils. mRNA was extracted from 4 x 106 eosinophils and amplified by RT-PCR, and PCR products were confirmed by Southern blot analysis. Data show a comparison of sIL-5R{alpha} and mIL-5R{alpha} mRNA from BAL or blood (BLD) eosinophils obtained from four individual subjects 48 h post-SBP-Ag. The double bands present for mIL-5R{alpha} most likely result from secondary structure in these transcripts. GAPDH was analyzed by a RT-PCR competitive ELISA-type assay. The ratio of sIL-5R{alpha}/GAPDH or mIL-5R{alpha}/GAPDH is indicated at the bottom of each respective lane.

 
Comparison of IL-5 and GM-CSF for ex vivo degranulation of BAL eosinophils

Eosinophil degranulation was used to assess the potential functional significance of the reduction of mIL-5R{alpha} on BAL eosinophils. Isolated blood or BAL eosinophils were cultured with medium alone or 1 ng/ml IL-5 or GM-CSF, and released EDN was determined. Blood eosinophils showed significant cytokine-induced EDN release in response to either IL-5 or GM-CSF (Fig. 5GoA). In contrast, BAL eosinophils responded to GM-CSF, but were refractory to stimulation by IL-5 (Fig. 5GoB). These data indicate that a reduction in mIL-5R{alpha} expression, which is seen on BAL eosinophils, is associated with a decrease in the ability of these cells to respond to IL-5 with the release of EDN, i.e., there was a demonstrable functional correlate for the observed change in receptor expression.



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FIGURE 5. Functional capacity of blood (A) and BAL (B) eosinophils to release the eosinophil granule protein, EDN. Release of EDN was measured 4 h after ex vivo exposure of eosinophils to medium alone, 1 ng/ml IL-5, or 1 ng/ml GM-CSF. Boxes represent medians within 25 and 75 quartiles (n = 7). *, p < 0.05 compared with spontaneous release; {dagger}, p < 0.05 compared with IL-5-treated cells. Total EDN release (median with 25 and 75 percentiles) by lysed blood and BAL eosinophils was 3152 (2369, 4734) and 2862 (1941, 3965) ng/1 x 106 cells, respectively.

 

    Discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
In this study, we established that, following airway Ag challenge of atopic subjects, mIL-5R{alpha} and {beta}c were markedly reduced on airway eosinophils compared with circulating eosinophils. Furthermore, sIL-5R{alpha} protein was detected, and the concentrations were significantly elevated in BAL fluid 48 h after Ag challenge. Although the precise role of mIL-5R{alpha} and sIL-5R{alpha} in the regulation of airway eosinophil functions is unknown, we speculate that these events control IL-5-mediated activation of eosinophils. In this regard, we have demonstrated that, in contrast to their circulating counterparts, BAL eosinophils obtained following SBP-Ag do not release EDN when exposed ex vivo to IL-5. Taken together, these observations further support the notion that the primary function of IL-5 is eosinophil hemopoiesis and release from the bone marrow (30, 31). Moreover, the decrease in mIL-5R{alpha} expression on BAL eosinophils and the lack of responsiveness to IL-5 suggest a switch to IL-5-independent cell function once this cell is in the airway.

The decrease in the expression of mIL-5R{alpha} on human airway eosinophils compared with their circulating counterparts is consistent with the observations by Tomaki et al. (9), who showed that mIL-5R{alpha} was detectable by immunohistochemistry on bone marrow, but not BAL eosinophils following airway allergen challenge in a murine model of allergen-induced eosinophilic airway inflammation. The decrease in mIL-5R{alpha} expression could occur via several possible mechanisms. First, the receptor could undergo proteasome degradation. Recent studies in an IL-5-responsive erythroleukemia line (TF-1) have shown that IL-5 induces proteasome-mediated cleavage of the {beta}c cytoplasmic tail, followed by receptor internalization and degradation in the lysosome (32). Second, the receptor could be internalized via lysosomal-mediated mechanisms and be either degraded or recycled to the cell surface. For example, loss of the chemokine receptor CCR3 involves internalization with both degradation and limited recycling of receptors to the cell surface (33, 34). Finally, the ectodomain of mIL-5R{alpha} could be shed from the cell surface through a proteolytic process to give rise to a soluble form of the receptor. A number of integral membrane proteins are known to be enzymatically cleaved from the cell surface, including cytokine receptors (TNF-{alpha}, IL-6, TGF-{beta}1), Ig receptors (FcR{gamma}III, FcR{gamma}II, FcR{epsilon}), and adhesion molecules (VCAM-1, CD14, L-selectin) (35). Based on the observations that the sIL-5R{alpha} protein was detected in BAL fluid and that levels increased following Ag challenge in the absence of increased steady state levels of sIL-5R{alpha} mRNA, we speculate that the presence of sIL-5R{alpha} in BAL fluid may result from cleavage of the mIL-5R{alpha} ectodomain from the cell surface and examine this possibility in the accompanying manuscript (40).

The demonstration of sIL-5R{alpha} in human biological fluids is a novel and potentially important finding toward an understanding of eosinophil function in allergic inflammation. The significance and functional activity of this protein remain to be determined, as other soluble receptors have been shown to inhibit or enhance cytokine function (36). It has been suggested that sIL-5R{alpha} may function as an IL-5 antagonist. This is based on the observation that rsIL-5R{alpha} binds with high affinity to IL-5 (37), and is a potent in vitro antagonist for IL-5-mediated signal transduction (18) and differentiation of eosinophil progenitor cells (19). In addition, Yasruel et al. (20) have reported that the presence of sIL-5R{alpha} mRNA-positive cells in the bronchial mucosa from asthmatic subjects correlated with an improvement in pulmonary function, whereas the presence of mIL-5R{alpha} mRNA-positive cells was associated with airflow obstruction. Based on these observations, it is tempting to speculate that sIL-5R{alpha} may serve a protective role in IL-5-mediated airway diseases. However, definitive studies await purification of the protein from BAL fluid.

We have presented compelling evidence that IL-5-mediated eosinophil activation in the airway is controlled at the level of IL-5R{alpha} expression. We recognize, however, that there are certain limitations to our studies of human airway eosinophils. First, we cannot ascertain where the switch to IL-5 unresponsiveness may occur. This is due, in part, to the lack of sufficient numbers of BAL eosinophils for analysis at baseline, and the inability to study the functional capacity of eosinophils in the airway mucosa. Second, we have yet to identify the IL-5-independent factor(s) that controls eosinophil activation in the airway. The role of GM-CSF in this regard is not entirely clear. Although airway eosinophils retain some degree of responsiveness to GM-CSF, as demonstrated by EDN release, the expression of {beta}c is markedly reduced on these cells, and the degree of responsiveness to exogenous GM-CSF is significantly less than that of circulating eosinophils. Whether the differences between blood and BAL eosinophils are due to reduced signaling by GM-CSFR or reflects other differences between these cells is not yet known.

In conclusion, we propose that, following airway Ag challenge, IL-5 is primarily responsible for the release of mature eosinophils from the bone marrow and their subsequent recruitment to the airway. This is based on the high expression of mIL-5R{alpha} on circulating, but not airway eosinophils, and is consistent with a number of animal studies showing IL-5-induced eosinophilopoiesis and recruitment to the airway. Within the airway, expression of mIL-5R{alpha} on eosinophils is attenuated, and sIL-5R{alpha} is released into the BAL fluid. As a result, the response of the airway eosinophil to IL-5 is ablated, and additional factors may be required for further eosinophil activation. Thus, we postulate that within the airway, the regulation of eosinophil functions may be switched from an IL-5-dependent to IL-5-independent mechanism(s). Although these conclusions are, at present, speculative, we propose that this paradigm may begin to explain why recent studies with an anti-IL-5 mAb treatment of mild asthmatic patients reduced circulating and sputum eosinophils, but did not inhibit the airway response to inhaled allergen (38). In support of this possibility, Kay and colleagues (39) have recently reported that a significant proportion of eosinophils is retained within the airway mucosa following anti-IL-5 treatment of patients with asthma. Furthermore, anti-IL-5 had no effect on the detection of eosinophil granule protein present in the bronchial mucosa. Taken together with our observations that airway eosinophils (and presumably tissue-dwelling cells) have reduced expression of mIL-5R{alpha} and do not degranulate to IL-5, it is not surprising that anti-IL-5 did not modulate the airway response to Ag. This possibility emphasizes the need to closely evaluate effects of allergic mediators in various compartments, i.e., circulation, bronchial mucosa, and airway lumen, during allergic inflammation, and suggests that effective treatment may require selective elimination of multiple cytokine pathways.


    Acknowledgments
 
We thank our research nurses, Ann Dodge, Mary Jo Jackson, Andrea Tweedie-Felgus, and Lisa Peronto, for patient recruitment and assistance with bronchoscopies; Dr. Keith Meyer for assistance with bronchoscopies; Sarah Panzer for BAL processing; Kristyn Jansen for purification of eosinophils; Kathleen Bartemes for measurement of EDN; Drs. Paul Bertics and Lynn DeVito-Haynes for helpful discussion; Drs. Jim Malter and Louis Rosenthal for critical review of the manuscript; and our scientific writer, Dr. Jacqueline Houtman, for assistance with preparation of this manuscript.


    Footnotes
 
1 This work was supported by National Institutes of Health RO1 HL64066, the Wisconsin American Lung Association, an institutional Specialized Center of Research Grant-National Institutes of Health HL56396, and the University of Wisconsin General Clinical Research Center-National Institutes of Health M01 RR03186. Back

2 Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Elizabeth A. (Becky) Kelly, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, 600 Highland Avenue, CSC K4/928, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, Madison, WI 53792-9988. E-mail address: eak{at}medicine.wisc.edu Back

3 Abbreviations used in this paper: BAL, bronchoalveolar lavage; {beta}c, {beta}-chain; cPCR, competitive PCR; EDN, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin; ERK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase; m, membrane form; NCS, newborn calf serum; rs, Spearman’s correlation coefficient; s, soluble form; SBP, segmental bronchoprovocation. Back

Received for publication July 2, 2002. Accepted for publication October 1, 2002.


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 

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