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Secretion of a chemotactic factor for neutrophils and eosinophils by alveolar macrophages from asthmatic patients

P Gosset, A B Tonnel, M Joseph

    The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
    |December 1, 1984
    PubMed

    Insights

    Alveolar macrophages (AMs) release immune factors that attract neutrophils and eosinophils in allergic asthma. This IgE-dependent process involves low-molecular-weight substances, highlighting AMs

    Area of Science:

    • Immunology
    • Pulmonology
    • Cell Biology

    Background:

    • Allergic asthma involves complex inflammatory responses in the lungs.
    • Alveolar macrophages (AMs) play a role in immune responses within the lung.
    • IgE antibodies are central to allergic reactions.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the release of chemotactic factors by alveolar macrophages (AMs) in response to IgE-dependent stimulation.
    • To characterize the nature of these chemotactic factors and their role in allergic asthma.

    Main Methods:

    • Incubation of AMs from normal and asthmatic subjects with anti-IgE or allergens.
    • Measurement of chemotactic activity (CA) for polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and eosinophils in culture supernatants.
    • Partial characterization of the chemotactic factor using enzymatic treatments, heating, and gel filtration.
    • Assessment of the effect of leukotriene B4 on PMN deactivation.

    Main Results:

    • AMs from both normal and asthmatic subjects released a chemotactic factor (CA) for PMN and eosinophils upon IgE-dependent stimulation.
    • Direct stimulation of AMs from asthmatic patients with allergens induced CA, while unrelated allergens did not.
    • The neutrophil chemotactic factor was heat-stable, trypsin-resistant, and found in a low-molecular-weight fraction (300-1300 daltons).
    • Leukotriene B4 partially suppressed the CA of AM supernatants.

    Conclusions:

    • IgE-dependent stimulation of AMs generates chemotactic activity for neutrophils and eosinophils.
    • The released factor is likely a low-molecular-weight substance, potentially related to leukotrienes.
    • AMs are significant contributors to inflammatory lung processes in allergic asthma.

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