Innate immune response reflects disease activity in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a disease characterized by allergic granulomatosis, necrotizing vasculitis, and peripheral blood eosinophilia. Interleukin (IL)-33, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), and type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) are involved in the innate and type 2 immune responses in EGPA. However, the relationships among these molecules and the mechanisms underlying the development of EGPA remain unknown.

OBJECTIVE:

We investigated the relationships among peripheral blood eosinophil count, serum IL-33 and TSLP concentration, and peripheral blood ILC2 count in patients with EGPA, chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP), or bronchial asthma (BA).

METHODS:

We recruited 86 patients with EGPA in three groups (remission, relapse, and onset), 25 patients with CEP at active or inactive stages of disease, and 11 patients with BA. In patients with EGPA, CEP, or BA, serum IL-33, sST2, and TSLP concentrations were determined using ELISA and peripheral blood ILC2 counts (as Lin-1- CD127+ CRTH2+ cells) were determined using flow cytometry.

RESULTS:

Peripheral blood eosinophil count or ILC2 count, and serum sST2 or TSLP concentration were higher in patients with EGPA at onset than in those with EGPA at relapse or remission, or in those with BA or CEP. Serum IL-33 concentration was higher in patients with EGPA at relapse than in those with EGPA at onset or remission, or in those with BA or CEP. In a logistic regression model, EGPA disease activity was correlated with serum IL-33 concentration and peripheral blood ILC2 count, but not daily systemic and inhaled corticosteroid dose or immunosuppressant use. Eosinophil count was correlated with peripheral blood ILC2 count and serum TSLP concentration, but not serum IL-33 concentration.

CONCLUSIONS:

Increased peripheral blood ILC2 count and serum IL-33 concentration were associated with disease activity in EGPA. Increases in serum IL-33 concentration may indicate the presence of active vasculitis rather than peripheral or tissue eosinophilia.

• Authors: Naomi Tsurikisawa, Chiyako Oshikata, Maiko Watanabe, Takahiro Tsuburai, Takeshi Kaneko, Hiroshi Saito
• Journal: Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (Clin Exp Allergy) Vol. 48 Issue 10 Pg. 1305-1316 (10 2018) ISSN: 1365-2222 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 29908086 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Cytokines
• Immunoglobulin E
• Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin

Topics

• Aged
• Asthma (diagnosis, immunology, metabolism)
• Biomarkers
• Churg-Strauss Syndrome (diagnosis, immunology, metabolism)
• Cytokines (immunology, metabolism)
• Female
• Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (diagnosis, immunology, metabolism)
• Humans
• Immunity, Innate
• Immunoglobulin E (immunology)
• Leukocyte Count
• Lymphocytes (immunology, metabolism)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Severity of Illness Index
• Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin