[Effect of cytokine RANTES on induction of activated eosinophils]

The cytokine RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T expressed and secreted) is a member of the platelet factor 4 superfamily and is a chemoattractant for eosinophils. To study the effect of RANTES on induction of activated eosinophils, flow cytometry was used to measure the expression of intracellular EG2 in eosinophils. The concentration of eosinophil cationic protein in the culture supernatant of eosinophils stimulated with RANTES was also measured. Expression of EG2 and the mean fluorescence intensity ratio were greater in eosinophils stimulated with RANTES than in control eosinophils. Eosinophils stimulated with RANTES also produced more eosinophil cationic protein than did control eosinophils.