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Isolation of Functional Cardiac Immune Cells
Published on: December 5, 2011
Eosinophil granule proteins activate human heart mast cells
V Patella1, G de Crescenzo, I Marinò
1Division of Clinical Immunology, University of Naples Federico II, School of Medicine, Naples, Italy.
Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|August 1, 1996
Summary
Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and major basic protein (MBP) activate human heart mast cells, releasing inflammatory mediators. This suggests a mechanism for eosinophil-induced heart damage in eosinophilia.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cardiology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Eosinophilia is linked to heart disease, with eosinophil granule proteins implicated in endomyocardial damage.
- Human heart mast cells (HHMC) are effector cells of inflammation found in cardiac tissue.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vitro effects of key eosinophil granule proteins on HHMC activation.
- To determine if eosinophil granule proteins trigger the release of inflammatory mediators from HHMC.
Main Methods:
- Isolated HHMC were exposed to four principal eosinophil granule proteins: ECP, MBP, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin, and EPO.
- Mediator release (histamine, tryptase, PGD2) was measured following protein exposure.
- Activation dependence on calcium, temperature, and metabolic inhibitors (2-deoxy-D-glucose, antimycin A) was assessed.
- Correlations between mediator release and protein concentrations were analyzed.
Main Results:
- ECP and MBP stimulated the release of preformed mediators (histamine, tryptase) and de novo synthesis of PGD2 from HHMC.
- Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin and EPO did not induce mediator release.
- HHMC activation by ECP and MBP was calcium- and temperature-dependent and energy-dependent.
- Significant positive correlations were observed between ECP/MBP-induced histamine release and anti-IgE-induced release, and between histamine, tryptase, and PGD2 secretion.
Conclusions:
- ECP and MBP act as complete secretagogues on HHMC, initiating inflammatory responses.
- This study demonstrates a novel mechanism by which eosinophils and their granule proteins contribute to inflammatory reactions and endomyocardial lesions in eosinophilia.
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