Heterogeneity of expression of IgA receptors by human, mouse, and rat eosinophils

IgA is the most abundant class of Abs at mucosal surfaces where eosinophils carry out many of their effector functions. Most of the known IgA-mediated functions require interactions with IgA receptors, six of which have been identified in humans. These include the IgA FcR FcalphaRI/CD89 and the receptor for the secretory component, already identified on human eosinophils, the polymeric IgR, the Fcalpha/muR, asialoglycoprotein (ASGP)-R, and transferrin (Tf)R/CD71. In rodents, the existence of IgA receptors on mouse and rat eosinophils remains unclear. We have compared the expression and function of IgA receptors by human, rat, and mouse eosinophils. Our results show that human eosinophils express functional polymeric IgR, ASGP-R, and TfR, in addition to CD89 and the receptor for the secretory component, and that IgA receptors are expressed by rodent eosinophils. Indeed, mouse eosinophils expressed only TfR, whereas rat eosinophils expressed ASGP-R and CD89 mRNA. These results provide a molecular basis for the differences observed between human, rat, and mouse regarding IgA-mediated immunity.