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Fc gamma and CD11/CD18 receptor expression on normal density and low density human eosinophils
A Hartnell1, R Moqbel, G M Walsh
1Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Heart and Lung Institute, London, U.K.
Insights
Human eosinophils uniquely express Fc gamma RII receptors and share leucocyte integrins with neutrophils. This study differentiates eosinophils and neutrophils and examines receptor expression in hypereosinophilic syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Human eosinophils play roles in allergic inflammation and immunity.
- Understanding eosinophil surface receptor expression is crucial for immunological research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize Fc gamma receptor and leucocyte integrin expression on human eosinophils.
- To compare eosinophils with neutrophils and monocytes.
- To investigate receptor expression in hypereosinophilic syndrome.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry and monoclonal antibodies were used to analyze peripheral blood eosinophils.
- Eosinophils of normal and low density were compared.
- Neutrophils and monocytes served as controls.
Main Results:
- Eosinophils exclusively express Fc gamma RII (CDw32), distinguishing them from monocytes and neutrophils.
- Fc gamma RIII (CD16) absence on eosinophils aids in differentiating eosinophil and neutrophil populations.
- Leucocyte integrins (CD11/CD18 family) are expressed on both eosinophils and neutrophils.
- CD18 expression is notably reduced on low-density eosinophils from hypereosinophilic syndrome patients.
Conclusions:
- Human eosinophils possess a distinct Fc gamma receptor phenotype.
- Eosinophils and neutrophils exhibit similar leucocyte integrin expression patterns.
- Low-density eosinophils show comparable receptor expression to normal-density eosinophils, except for reduced CD18 in hypereosinophilic syndrome.
Abstract:
We have studied the expression of Fc gamma receptors and leucocyte integrins (CD11/CD18 family) on human eosinophils using specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and flow cytometric analysis. Peripheral blood eosinophils of normal density and low density were compared with neutrophils and monocytes. Several properties of the human eosinophil were established. These were (i) that the eosinophil expressed Fc gamma RII (CDw32) only (unlike monocytes which bear Fc gamma RI and Fc gamma RII and neutrophils which bear Fc gamma RII and Fc gamma RIII); (ii) that the absence of Fc gamma RIII (CD16) on eosinophils served as a basis for distinguishing eosinophil and neutrophil populations by immunofluorescence; (iii) that the leucocyte adhesion glycoproteins, LFA-1 alpha (CD11a), CR3-alpha (CD11b), p150, 95-alpha (CD11c) and the common beta-chain (CD18), were expressed on the eosinophil as well as the neutrophil; (iv) that CD18 expression was significantly reduced on low-density eosinophils from the hypereosinophilic syndrome. Thus, our findings emphasize the unique phenotype of the human eosinophil in terms of Fc gamma receptor expression, the similarity of the eosinophil and neutrophil with regard to the leucocyte integrins and that eosinophils of low density do not differ greatly from those of normal density in terms of receptor expression.
