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Cellular and subcellular localization of cationic leukocyte antigen (CLA) in human eosinophil granulocytes
E J Gutierrez-Peña1, F W Tischendorf, N W Brattig
1Department of Parasitology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
Insights
Cationic leukocyte antigen (CLA) is exclusively found in eosinophils, both in blood and tissue. This immune marker localizes to the granules within these specific white blood cells.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Cationic leukocyte antigen (CLA) is a protein found on certain white blood cells.
- Understanding the precise location of CLA is crucial for its role in immune responses and disease pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cellular and subcellular localization of CLA in human granulocytes.
- To determine if CLA is present in other immune cells besides eosinophils.
Main Methods:
- Immunoenzymatic labeling of human peripheral blood and tissue granulocytes.
- Immunoelectron microscopy using immunogold labeling.
- Study of healthy individuals, subjects with eosinophilia, and patients with onchocerciasis.
Main Results:
- CLA was exclusively detected in the cytoplasm of eosinophil granulocytes.
- Immunoelectron microscopy confirmed CLA localization within the matrix of both pale and large secondary granules of eosinophils.
- No CLA was found in neutrophils, basophils, lymphocytes, or monocytes.
Conclusions:
- Cationic leukocyte antigen (CLA) is a specific marker for eosinophils.
- CLA resides within the granules of eosinophils, suggesting a role in their function.
- This finding aids in distinguishing eosinophils and understanding their involvement in inflammatory conditions.
Abstract:
The cellular and subcellular localization of cationic leukocyte antigen (CLA) in human peripheral blood and tissue granulocytes was investigated by immunoenzymatic labeling and by immunoelectron microscopy. Human peripheral blood granulocytes from healthy individuals and from subjects with eosinophilia of varying etiology, as well as intravascular and/or perivascular granulocytes in skin biopsies taken from patients with generalized onchocerciasis, a skin disease caused by microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus, were studied. Controlled indirect immunoenzymatic staining for CLA in cytospin preparations of buffy coat cells and in histological sections of skin biopsies revealed that this protein was exclusively found in the cytoplasm of eosinophil granulocytes. Furthermore, immunogold labeling coupled with electron microscopy showed that CLA was specifically localized within the matrix of both the small non-crystalloid-containing pale granules and the large crystalloid-containing secondary granules of peripheral blood and tissue eosinophils. No specific gold labeling was observed in other organelles of eosinophils, in neutrophils, basophils, lymphocytes or monocytes.
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