Enhanced adhesion to laminin by apoptotic eosinophils

Apoptotic cells are regarded as inert bodies that turn off intracellular processes and functional capabilities. The objective was to study adhesion by eosinophils in relation to the apoptotic process. Eosinophils were cultured for up to 72 h. The living cells were separated from the apoptotic cells, and their adhesion to transfected cell lines expressing vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), E-selectin and laminin was measured. To relate the functional studies with cell structure, the surface receptor expression of beta1- and beta2-integrins was investigated by flow cytometry. Apoptotic eosinophils evidenced an increased expression of the alpha-chain of the laminin receptor and CD49f and an increased ability to adhere to a laminin-coated surface. Adhesion to the endothelial cell adhesion receptors E-selectin, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 was absent in apoptotic eosinophils and was paralleled by a low expression of CD11b, CD29, CD49d and CD66b. The specifically increased adhesion to laminin and expression of the laminin receptor alpha-chain is a unique feature of apoptotic eosinophils. When an eosinophil goes into apoptosis, it still possesses the ability to interact with its environment. Our results point to new ideas as to how the apoptotic eosinophil behaves in apoptosis.