Histone acetylation induced by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in a map kinase-dependent manner

Crosstalk between ROS-inflammatory gene expression axis in the progression of lung disorders

A significant number of deaths and disabilities worldwide are brought on by inflammatory lung diseases. Many inflammatory lung disorders, including chronic respiratory emphysema, resistant asthma, resistance to steroids, and coronavirus-infected lung infections, have severe variants for which there are no viable treatments; as a result, new treatment alternatives are needed. Here, we emphasize how oxidative imbalance contributes to the emergence of provocative lung problems that are challenging to treat. Endogenic antioxidant systems are not enough to avert free radical-mediated damage due to the induced overproduction of ROS. Pro-inflammatory mediators are then produced due to intracellular signaling events, which can harm the tissue and worsen the inflammatory response. Overproduction of ROS causes oxidative stress, which causes lung damage and various disease conditions. Invasive microorganisms or hazardous substances that are inhaled repeatedly can cause an excessive amount of ROS to be produced. By starting signal transduction pathways, increased ROS generation during inflammation may cause recurrent DNA damage and apoptosis and activate proto-oncogenes. This review provides information about new targets for conducting research in related domains or target factors to prevent, control, or treat such inflammatory oxidative stress-induced inflammatory lung disorders.

Redox-sensitive gene-regulatory events controlling aberrant matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression

Aberrant matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression contributes to the pathogenesis of many degenerative disease processes that are associated with increased oxidative damage or stress. We and others have established that shifts in steady-state H2O2 production resulting from enforced antioxidant gene expression, senescence, or UV irradiation control MMP-1 expression. Here we establish that histone deacetylase-2 (HDAC2) protein levels and its occupancy of the MMP-1 promoter are decreased in response to enforced manganese superoxide dismutase (Sod2) expression. Inhibition of HDAC activity further accentuates the redox-dependent expression of MMP-1. Sod2-dependent decreases in HDAC2 are associated with increases in a proteasome-sensitive pool of ubiquitinylated HDAC2 and MMP-1-specific histone H3 acetylation. Sod2 overexpression also enhanced recruitment of Ets-1, c-Jun, c-Fos, and the histone acetyltransferase PCAF to the distal and proximal regions of the MMP-1 promoter. Furthermore, the Sod2-dependent expression of MMP-1 can be reversed by silencing the transcriptional activator c-Jun. All of the above Sod2-dependent alterations are largely reversed by catalase coexpression, indicating that the redox control of MMP-1 is H2O2-dependent. These findings identify a novel redox regulation of MMP-1 transcription that involves site-specific promoter recruitment of both activating factors and chromatin-modifying enzymes, which converge to maximally drive MMP-1 gene expression.

Anacardic acid, a histone acetyltransferase inhibitor, modulates LPS-induced IL-8 expression in a human alveolar epithelial cell line A549

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN

The histone acetylation processes, which are believed to play a critical role in the regulation of many inflammatory genes, are reversible and regulated by histone acetyltransferases (HATs), which promote acetylation, and histone deacetylases (HDACs), which promote deacetylation. We studied the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on histone acetylation and its role in the regulation of interleukin (IL)-8 expression. 

MATERIAL

A human alveolar epithelial cell line A549 was used in vitro.

METHODS

Histone H4 acetylation at the IL-8 promoter region was assessed by a chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. The expression and production of IL-8 were evaluated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and specific immunoassay. Effects of a HDAC inhibitor, trichostatin A (TSA), and a HAT inhibitor, anacardic acid, were assessed. 

RESULTS

Escherichia coli-derived LPS showed a dose- and time-dependent stimulatory effect on IL-8 protein production and mRNA expression in A549 cells in vitro. LPS showed a significant stimulatory effect on histone H4 acetylation at the IL-8 promoter region by ChIP assay. Pretreatment with TSA showed a dose-dependent stimulatory effect on IL-8 release from A549 cells as compared to LPS alone. Conversely, pretreatment with anacardic acid inhibited IL-8 production and expression in A549 cells. 

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that LPS-mediated proinflammatory responses in the lungs might be modulated via changing chromatin remodeling by HAT inhibition.

Anti-inflammatory effect of 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol via the suppression of NF-κB and MAPK activation, and acetylation of histone H3

Although inflammation acts as host defense mechanism against infection or injury and is primarily a self limiting process, inadequate resolution of inflammatory responses leads to various chronic disorders. This work aimed to elucidate the anti-inflammatory effects of 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol (2M4VP) isolated from pine needles in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Some key pro-inflammatory mediators including nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandins (PGE(2)), inducible NO synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were studied by sandwich ELISA and western blot. In addition, suppression of NF-κB and MAPK activation, and histone acetylation was studied by western blot analysis and immunostaining. 2M4VP dosedependently inhibited NO and PGE(2) production and also blocked LPS-induced iNOS and COX-2 expression. In addition, 2M4VP potently inhibited the translocation of NF-κB p65 into the nucleus by IκB degradation following IκB-α phosphorylation and the phosphorylation of MAPKs such as p38, ERK1/2, and JNK. Also, 2M4VP inhibited hyper-acetylation of histone H3 (Lys9/Lys14) induced by LPS. Taken together, our results suggest that 2M4VP, a naturally occurring phenolic compound, exert potent anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting LPS-induced NO, PGE(2), iNOS, and COX-2 in RAW264.7 cells. These effects are mediated by suppression of NF-κB and MAPK activation and histone acetylation.

Oxidative stress disrupts oligodendrocyte maturation

Periventricular white matter injury (PWMI) is the leading cause of chronic neurologic injury among survivors of preterm birth. The hallmark of PWMI is hypomyelination and a lack of mature, myelinating oligodendrocytes. Oligodendrocytes undergo a well-characterized lineage progression from neural stem cell to mature oligodendrocyte. Oligodendrocyte precursors have increased susceptibility to oxidative and free radical-mediated injury compared with mature oligodendrocytes as a result of lower levels of antioxidant enzymes and free radical scavengers. In this study, we show that oxidative stress disrupts oligodendrocyte differentiation by two mechanisms. First, oxidizing agents decrease the expression of key genes that promote oligodendrocyte differentiation from neural stem cells and increase the expression of genes known to inhibit differentiation. Second, global histone acetylation persists under conditions of oxidative stress, further contributing to the prevention of oligodendrocyte differentiation. Both of these mechanisms result in the arrest of oligodendrocyte differentiation without an increase in cell death.

Nuclear heat shock protein 72 as a negative regulator of oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxide)-induced HMGB1 cytoplasmic translocation and release

In response to inflammatory stimuli (e.g., endotoxin, proinflammatory cytokines) or oxidative stress, macrophages actively release a ubiquitous nuclear protein, high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), to sustain an inflammatory response to infection or injury. In this study, we demonstrated mild heat shock (e.g., 42.5 degrees C, 1 h), or enhanced expression of heat shock protein (Hsp) 72 (by gene transfection) similarly rendered macrophages resistant to oxidative stress-induced HMGB1 cytoplasmic translocation and release. In response to oxidative stress, cytoplasmic Hsp72 translocated to the nucleus, where it interacted with nuclear proteins including HMGB1. Genetic deletion of the nuclear localization sequence (NLS) or the peptide binding domain (PBD) from Hsp72 abolished oxidative stress-induced nuclear translocation of Hsp72-DeltaNLS (but not Hsp72-DeltaPBD), and prevented oxidative stress-induced Hsp72-DeltaPBD-HMGB1 interaction in the nucleus. Furthermore, impairment of Hsp72-DeltaNLS nuclear translocation, or Hsp72-DeltaPBD-HMGB1 interaction in the nucleus, abrogated Hsp72-mediated suppression of HMGB1 cytoplasmic translocation and release. Taken together, these experimental data support a novel role for nuclear Hsp72 as a negative regulator of oxidative stress-induced HMGB1 cytoplasmic translocation and release.

Pleiotropic role of histone deacetylases in the regulation of human adult erythropoiesis

Histone acetylation and deacetylation play fundamental roles in transcriptional regulation. We investigated the role of histone deacetylases (HDACs) in human adult haematopoiesis, using the structurally distinct HDAC inhibitors FK228 (depsipeptide) and Trichostatin A. When CD34+ cells were cultured with interleukin (IL)-3 or stem cell factor (SCF) + IL-3, FK228 (0.5 ng/ml) specifically enhanced the generation of immature erythroid cells with a CD36+ glycophorin A (GPA)low phenotype. In semisolid cultures, FK228 promoted the formation of erythroid colonies by CD34+ cells with IL-3 and SCF + IL-3. Furthermore, upon exposure to FK228, CD34+ cell-derived CD36+ GPA- cells were induced to form erythroid colonies with IL-3 alone. Conversely, FK228 inhibited the generation of CD36+ GPAhigh relatively mature erythroid cells from CD34+ cells in the presence of erythropoietin (EPO) and SCF + EPO. FK228 suppressed the EPO-mediated survival of CD36+ GPAlow/- and CD36+ GPAhigh cells and induced their apoptosis. Similar effects were observed for trichostatin A in the generation of erythroid cells in IL-3- and EPO-containing cultures. These data suggest that HDACs negatively regulate the IL-3-mediated growth of early erythroid precursors by suppressing their responsiveness to IL-3, while playing an important role in EPO-mediated differentiation and survival of erythroid precursors. Our data revealed that HDACs have diverse functions in human adult erythropoiesis.

Epigenetics and the plasticity of differentiation in normal and cancer stem cells

Embryonic stem cells are characterized by their differentiation to all cell types during embryogenesis. In adult life, different tissues also have somatic stem cells, called adult stem cells, which in specific niches can undergo multipotent differentiation. The use of these adult stem cells has considerable therapeutic potential for the regeneration of damaged tissues. In both embryonic and adult stem cells, differentiation is controlled by epigenetic mechanisms, and the plasticity of differentiation in these cells is associated with transcription accessibility for genes expressed in different normal tissues. Abnormalities in genetic and/or epigenetic controls can lead to development of cancer, which is maintained by self-renewing cancer stem cells. Although the genetic abnormalities produce defects in growth and differentiation in cancer stem cells, these cells have not always lost the ability to undergo differentiation through epigenetic changes that by-pass the genomic abnormalities, thus creating the basis for differentiation therapy. Like normal stem cells, cancer stem cells can show plasticity for differentiation. This plasticity of cancer stem cells is also associated with transcription accessibility for genes that are normally expressed in different tissues, including tissues other than those from which the cancers originated. This broad transcription accessibility can also contribute to the behavior of cancer cells by overexpressing genes that promote cell viability, growth and metastasis.

High levels of oxidative stress globally inhibit gene transcription and histone acetylation

Oxidative stress has been shown to induce ubiquitynation of RNA polymerase II, but direct bearing of that phenomenon on global transcription still remains elusive. In this report, we show that high levels of cellular oxidative stress globally inhibit gene transcription, and that this decrease in transcription is only partly attributable to reduced binding of RNA polymerase II to a model gene promoter. Importantly, we show that this decrease in transcription correlates with a significant decrease in histone H3 and H4 acetylation levels both throughout a model gene, and also globally in the nucleus of cells. Our results suggest that high levels of oxidative stress can inhibit transcription by a mechanism, at least in part, that impedes global histone acetylation levels.

Involvement of histone acetyltransferase (HAT) in ethanol-induced acetylation of histone H3 in hepatocytes: potential mechanism for gene expression

Ethanol treatment increases gene expression in the liver through mechanisms that are not clearly understood. Histone acetylation has been shown to induce transcriptional activation. We have investigated the characteristics and mechanisms of ethanol-induced histone H3 acetylation in rat hepatocytes. Immunocytochemical and immunoblot analysis revealed that ethanol treatment significantly increased H3 acetylation at Lys9 with negligible effects at Lys14, -18, and -23. Acute in vivo administration of alcohol in rats produced the same results as in vitro observations. Nuclear extracts from ethanol-treated hepatocytes increased acetylation in H3 peptide to a greater extent than extracts from untreated cells, suggesting that ethanol either increased the expression level or the specific activity of histone acetyltransferases (HAT). Use of different H3 peptides indicated that ethanol selectively modulated HAT(s) targeting H3-Lys9. Treatment with acetate, an ethanol metabolite, also increased acetylation of H3-Lys9 and modulated HAT(s) in the same manner as ethanol, suggesting that acetate mediates the ethanol-induced effect on HAT. Inhibitors of MEK (U0126) and JNK (SP600125), but not p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580), suppressed ethanol-induced H3 acetylation. However, U0126 and SP600125 did not significantly affect ethanol-induced effect on HAT, suggesting that ERK and JNK regulate histone acetylation through a separate pathway(s) that does not involve modulation of HAT. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that ethanol treatment increased the association of the class I alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH I) gene with acetylated H3-Lys9. These data provide first evidence that ethanol increases acetylation of H3-Lys9 through modulation of HAT(s) and that histone acetylation may underlie the mechanism for ethanol-induced ADH I gene expression.

The Role of Oxidative Stress in the Pathogenesis??of COPD

Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress are important features in the pathogenesis of COPD. The increased oxidative stress in patients with COPD is the result of an increased burden of inhaled oxidants, as well as increased amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by various inflammatory, immune and epithelial cells of the airways. Oxidative stress has important implications on several events of lung physiology and for the pathogenesis of COPD. These include oxidative inactivation of antiproteases and surfactants, mucus hypersecretion, membrane lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial respiration, alveolar epithelial injury, remodeling of extracellular matrix, and apoptosis. An increased level of ROS produced in the airways is reflected by increased markers of oxidative stress in the airspaces, sputum, breath, lungs, and blood in patients with COPD. The biomarkers of oxidative stress such as H2O2, F2-isoprostanes, malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal have been successfully measured in breath condensate. ROS and aldehydes play a key role in enhancing the inflammation through the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and redox-sensitive transcription factors such as nuclear factor kappa B and activator protein-1. Oxidative stress also alters nuclear histone acetylation and deacetylation leading to increased gene expression of pro-inflammatory mediators in the lung. Oxidative stress may play a role in the poor clinical efficacy of corticosteroids in the treatment of COPD. Since a variety of oxidants, free radicals, and aldehydes are implicated in the pathogenesis of COPD it is likely that a combination of antioxidants may be effective in the treatment of COPD. Antioxidant compounds may also be of therapeutic value in monitoring oxidative biomarkers indicating disease progression. Various approaches to enhance the lung antioxidant screen and the clinical effectiveness of antioxidant compounds in the treatment of COPD are discussed.

Redox modulation of chromatin remodeling: impact on histone acetylation and deacetylation, NF-kappaB and pro-inflammatory gene expression

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), either directly or via the formation of lipid peroxidation products, such as 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, acrolein and F2-isoprostanes, may play a role in enhancing inflammation through the activation and phosphorylation of stress kinases (JNK, ERK, p38) and redox-sensitive transcription factors such as NF-kappaB and AP-1. This increases the expression of genes regulating a battery of distinct pro-inflammatory mediators. Acetylation by histone acetyltransferase (HAT) of specific lysine residues on the N-terminal tail of core histones, results in uncoiling of the DNA and increased accessibility to transcription factor binding. In contrast, histone deacetylation by histone deacetylase (HDAC) represses gene transcription by promoting DNA winding thereby limiting access to transcription factors. Oxidative stress activates NF-kappaB resulting in expression of pro-inflammatory mediators through the activation of intrinsic HAT activity on co-activator molecules. In addition, oxidative stress also inhibits HDAC activity and in doing so enhances inflammatory gene expression which leads to a chronic inflammatory response. Oxidative stress can also increase complex formation between the co-activator CBP/p300 and the p65 subunit of NF-kappaB suggesting a further role of oxidative stress in chromatin remodeling. The antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory effects of thiol molecules (glutathione, N-acetyl-L-cysteine and N-acystelyn), dietary polyphenols (curcumin-diferuloylmethane and resveratrol), the bronchodilator theophylline and glucocorticoids have all been shown to play a role in either controlling NF-kappaB activation or chromatin remodeling through modulation of HDAC activity and subsequently inflammatory gene expression in lung epithelial cells. Thus, oxidative stress regulates both signal transduction and chromatin remodeling which in turn impacts on pro-inflammatory responses in the lungs.

Cisplatin-induced post-translational modification of histones H3 and H4

The anti-cancer drug cisplatin kills cells by damaging DNA and inducing apoptosis. Understanding the detailed mechanisms by which cancer cells respond to cisplatin has the potential to improve substantially platinum-based therapy. Post-translational modification of histones alters chromatin structure, facilitating the binding of nuclear factors that mediate DNA repair, transcription, and other processes. In the present study, we have investigated the effects of cisplatin treatment on histone post-translational modification in cancer cells. We discovered that specific phosphorylation of histone H3 at Ser-10, mediated by the p38 MAPK pathway, is induced in response to cisplatin treatment. In addition, hyperacetylation of histone H4 was caused by drug treatment. These findings revealed a link between cisplatin administration and chromosomal structural alterations, providing mechanistic information about how cells respond to platinum-induced stress.

Oxidative stress and calcium signaling in the adverse effects of environmental particles (PM10)

This review focuses on the potential role that oxidative stress plays in the adverse effects of PM(10). The central hypothesis is that the ability of PM(10) to cause oxidative stress underlies the association between increased exposure to PM(10) and both exacerbations of lung disease and lung cancer. Pulmonary inflammation may also underlie the cardiovascular effects seen following increased PM(10), although the mechanisms of the cardiovascular effects of PM(10) are not well understood. PM(10) is a complex mix of various particle types and several of the components of PM(10) are likely to be involved in the induction of oxidative stress. The most likely of these are transition metals, ultrafine particle surfaces, and organic compounds. In support of this hypothesis, oxidative stress arising from PM(10) has been shown to activate a number of redox-responsive signaling pathways in lung target cells. These pathways are involved in expression of genes that play a role in responses relevant to inflammation and pathological change, including MAPKs, NF-kappaB, AP-1, and histone acetylation. Oxidative stress from particles is also likely to play an important role in the carcinogenic effects associated with PM(10) and hydroxyl radicals from PM(10) cause DNA damage in vitro.

Histone acetylation regulates epithelial IL-8 release mediated by oxidative stress from environmental particles

Increases in the levels of environmental particulate matter with a diameter of <10 microm diameter (PM(10)) in the air are associated with a variety of adverse health effects, particularly chronic lung and cardiovascular diseases. The expression of many inflammatory genes involves the remodeling of the chromatin structure provided by histone proteins. Histone acetylation causes the unwinding of chromatin structure, therefore allowing transcription factor access to promoter sites. Acetylation is reversible and is regulated by histone acetyltransferases (HATs), which promote acetylation, and deacetylases, which promote deacetylation. PM(10) and H(2)O(2) increased IL-8 protein release from A549 cells after 24-h treatment, and this was enhanced by histone deacetylase inhibition by trichostatin A (cotreatment). PM(10) and H(2)O(2) treatment also increased HAT activity as well as the level of acetylated histone 4 (H4). PM(10) enhanced H4 acetylation that was mediated by oxidative stress as shown by thiol antioxidant inhibition. Acetylation of H4 mediated by PM(10) was associated with the promoter region of the IL-8 gene. These data suggest that remodeling of chromatin by histone acetylation plays a role in PM(10)-mediated responses in the lungs.

Oxidative stress, chromatin remodeling and gene transcription in inflammation and chronic lung diseases

Inflammatory lung diseases are characterized by chronic inflammation and oxidant/antioxidant imbalance. The sources of the increased oxidative stress in patients with chronic inflammatory lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) derive from the increased burden of inhaled oxidants, and from the increased amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by several inflammatory, immune and various structural cells of the airways. Increased levels of ROS produced in the airways is reflected by increased markers of oxidative stress in the airspaces, sputum, breath, lungs and blood in patients with lung diseases. ROS, either directly or via the formation of lipid peroxidation products such as 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal may play a role in enhancing the inflammation through the activation of stress kinases (JNK, MAPK, p38) and redox sensitive transcription factors such as NF-capital KJE, MacedonianB and AP-1. Recent evidences have indicated that oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory mediators can alter nuclear histone acetylation/deacetylation allowing access for transcription factor DNA binding leading to enhanced pro-inflammatory gene expression in various lung cells. Understanding of the mechanisms of redox signaling, NF-kappaB/AP-1 regulation, the balance between histone acetylation and deacetylation and the release and expression of pro- and antiinflammatory mediators may lead to the development of novel therapies based on the pharmacological manipulation of antioxidants in lung inflammation and injury. Antioxidants that have effective wide spectrum activity and good bioavailability, thiols or molecules which have dual antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, may be potential therapeutic agents which not only protect against the direct injurious effects of oxidants, but may fundamentally alter the underlying inflammatory processes which play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory lung diseases.

The chiaroscuro stem cell: a unified stem cell theory

Hematopoiesis has been considered hierarchical in nature, but recent data suggest that the system is not hierarchical and is, in fact, quite functionally plastic. Existing data indicate that engraftment and progenitor phenotypes vary inversely with cell cycle transit and that gene expression also varies widely. These observations suggest that there is no progenitor/stem cell hierarchy, but rather a reversible continuum. This may, in turn, be dependent on shifting chromatin and gene expression with cell cycle transit. If the phenotype of these primitive marrow cells changes from engraftable stem cell to progenitor and back to engraftable stem cell with cycle transit, then this suggests that the identity of the engraftable stem cell may be partially masked in nonsynchronized marrow cell populations. A general model indicates a marrow cell that can continually change its surface receptor expression and thus responds to external stimuli differently at different points in the cell cycle.

Epigenetics wins over genetics: induction of differentiation in tumor cells

Malignant cells are genetically abnormal, but can the malignant phenotype revert to a non-malignant phenotype without correcting these genetic abnormalities? It has been found that this reversion can be achieved by reprogramming tumor cells by epigenetic changes induced by differentiation. The epigenetic suppression of malignancy by inducing differentiation bypasses the genetic abnormalities in tumor cells. Studies with myeloid leukemic cells have shown that some leukemic cells can be induced to differentiate by cytokines that control normal hematopoiesis, and that myeloid leukemic cells resistant to normal cytokines can be induced to differentiate by compounds that use alternative differentiation pathways. The epigenetic reprogramming of tumor cells by inducing differentiation has also been found with other types of tumors and can be used for tumor therapy. By this reversion of the malignant to non-malignant phenotype, epigenetics wins over genetics.

Oxidative stress, transcription factors and chromatin remodelling in lung inflammation

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory lung disorders. Oxidants and inflammatory mediators such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) activate transcription factors such as nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) leading to the expression of pro-inflammatory genes. The expression of many genes, including those encoding pro-inflammatory mediators involves the remodelling of the chromatin structure provided by histone proteins. Histone acetylation causes the unwinding of chromatin structure therefore allowing transcription factor access to promoter sites. Nuclear histone acetylation is a reversible process, and is regulated by a group of acetyltransferases (HATs) which promote acetylation, and deacetylases (HDACs) which promote deacetylation. In addition, several co-activators, transcription factors and nuclear proteins also have histone acetyltransferase activity. Both TNF-alpha and the oxidant, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) alter histone acetylation/deacetylation, and the activation of NF-kappaB and AP-1, leading to the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) in human alveolar epithelial cells (A549). Pharmacological inhibition of HDAC leads to the increased HAT activity, AP-1 and NF-kappaB activation, and IL-8 release by H2O2 or TNF-alpha treatments. This suggests that the remodelling of chromatin by histone acetylation plays a role in the oxidant-mediated pro-inflammatory responses in the lungs.

The effect of cysteinyl leukotrienes on growth of eosinophil progenitors from peripheral blood and bone marrow of atopic subjects

BACKGROUND

The accumulation of eosinophils into the peripheral blood and airways of asthmatic subjects is, in part, dependent on cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs). However, the effect of cysLTs on peripheral blood and bone marrow eosinophil pro-genitor cells in allergic subjects is not known.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of leukotriene (LT) D(4) and LTE(4) and the cysLT(1) receptor antagonist montelukast on peripheral blood and bone marrow eosinophil-basophil progenitor growth and development in atopic subjects.

METHODS

Semisolid methylcellulose cultures for peripheral blood and bone marrow eosinophil-basophil colonies were counted after incubation with or without addition of LTD(4), LTE(4), and montelukast in the presence of suboptimal concentrations of GM-CSF, IL-3, and IL-5.

RESULTS

Peripheral blood eosinophil-basophil colony-forming unit cultures grown in the presence of GM-CSF and bone marrow eosinophil-basophil colony-forming units grown in the presence of IL-5 were significantly increased by the addition of LTD(4) (0.1 micromol/L). This increase was suppressed by montelukast (1 micromol/L).

CONCLUSION

This study has demonstrated that the cysLT LTD(4) can stimulate proliferation of eosinophil hematopoietic progenitor cells in the presence of eosinophilopoietic cytokines. The suppressive effect by montelukast demonstrates that this is a cysLT(1) receptor-mediated effect.