Elevated concentrations of liver-expressed chemokine/CC chemokine ligand 16 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with eosinophilic pneumonia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Eosinophilic pneumonia is characterized by the prominent accumulation of eosinophils and lymphocytes in the lung parenchyma. Liver-expressed chemokine (LEC)/CC chemokine ligand 16 (CCL16) is a novel functional ligand for H4 which is expressed on eosinophils and also an affinity ligand for CCR1, CCR2, CCR5 and CCR8 which are expressed on T lymphocytes and monocytes. The purpose of this study is to clarify the role of LEC/CCL16 in eosinophilic pneumonia.

METHODS:

The LEC/CCL16 level was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of 33 patients with eosinophilic pneumonia, 26 patients with sarcoidosis and 10 healthy volunteers. The cell sources of LEC/CCL16 in BALF were evaluated by immunocytochemistry.

RESULTS:

The LEC/CCL16 levels in BALF from patients with eosinophilic pneumonia were significantly higher than those from patients with sarcoidosis and healthy volunteers. The BALF LEC/CCL16 levels correlated with the numbers of BALF eosinophils and lymphocytes, respectively. The BALF LEC/CCL16 levels were significantly decreased after remission in eosinophilic pneumonia. In immunocytochemistry, the LEC/CCL16 expression was clearly observed in CD1a-positive dendritic cells as well as in CD68-positive macrophages harvested from patients with eosinophilic pneumonia, but not from the controls.

CONCLUSIONS:

These results suggest that LEC/CCL16 produced by dendritic cells as well as by alveolar macrophages contributes to the accumulation of eosinophils and lymphocytes into the inflamed lungs of patients with eosinophilic pneumonia.

• Authors: Shin-ichi Nureki, Eishi Miyazaki, Yuko Usagawa, Takuya Ueno, Masaru Ando, Ryuichi Takenaka, Takeo Ito, Toshihiro Ishii, Toshihide Kumamoto
• Journal: International archives of allergy and immunology (Int Arch Allergy Immunol) Vol. 150 Issue 3 Pg. 282-90 ( 2009) ISSN: 1423-0097 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 19494526 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Chemical References

• Antigens, CD
• Antigens, CD1
• Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic
• CCL16 protein, human
• CD1a antigen
• CD68 antigen, human
• Chemokines, CC

Topics

• Adult
• Antigens, CD (biosynthesis)
• Antigens, CD1 (biosynthesis)
• Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic (biosynthesis)
• Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
• Chemokines, CC (genetics, immunology, metabolism)
• Dendritic Cells (immunology, metabolism, pathology)
• Disease Progression
• Eosinophils (immunology, metabolism, pathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Macrophages, Alveolar (immunology, metabolism, pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pulmonary Eosinophilia (diagnosis, immunology, pathology, physiopathology)
• Sarcoidosis (diagnosis, immunology, pathology, physiopathology)