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Degranulation patterns of eosinophil granulocytes as determinants of eosinophil driven disease

Erjefält, Jonas LU ; Greiff, Lennart LU ; Andersson, M ; Ädelroth, E ; Jeffery, P K and Persson, C G (2001) In Thorax 56(5). p.341-344
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Degranulation of eosinophils in target tissues is considered a key pathogenic event in major chronic eosinophilic diseases. However, because of a lack of appropriate methods, little is known about degranulation of eosinophils in common eosinophilic diseases. METHODS: Using transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis, a novel approach has been devised and validated to quantify eosinophil degranulation in human tissues (assessed in individual cells as percentage granules with structural signs of protein release). Biopsy specimens from patients with inflammatory bowel disease, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and nasal polyposis were evaluated. RESULTS: All conditions displayed a similar degree of local tissue eosinophilia, with no... (More)
BACKGROUND: Degranulation of eosinophils in target tissues is considered a key pathogenic event in major chronic eosinophilic diseases. However, because of a lack of appropriate methods, little is known about degranulation of eosinophils in common eosinophilic diseases. METHODS: Using transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis, a novel approach has been devised and validated to quantify eosinophil degranulation in human tissues (assessed in individual cells as percentage granules with structural signs of protein release). Biopsy specimens from patients with inflammatory bowel disease, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and nasal polyposis were evaluated. RESULTS: All conditions displayed a similar degree of local tissue eosinophilia, with no differences being observed in eosinophil numbers in the airway mucosa of patients with airway diseases and the colonic mucosa of those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In contrast, marked differences in the mean (SE) extent of eosinophil degranulation were observed between the patient groups; IBD 9.3 (1.4)% altered granules, artificial and natural allergen challenge induced allergic rhinitis 67.8 (6.8)% and 86.6 (3.0)%, respectively, asthma 18.1 (2)%, and nasal polyposis 46.6 (7.6)%. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first quantitative data which show that different eosinophilic conditions, despite having similar numbers of tissue eosinophils, may exhibit markedly different degranulation patterns. The present assessment of piecemeal degranulation would thus make it possible to delineate the conditions under which eosinophils are likely to contribute to disease processes. This novel type of analysis may also guide and validate anti-eosinophilic treatment options. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Thorax
volume
56
issue
5
pages
341 - 344
publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • pmid:11312400
  • scopus:0035049950
ISSN
1468-3296
DOI
10.1136/thorax.56.5.341
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a73b4f8a-e9a4-4f78-a256-ee8387af6a7f (old id 1122932)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:31:53
date last changed
2022-01-28 20:23:09
@article{a73b4f8a-e9a4-4f78-a256-ee8387af6a7f,
  abstract     = {{BACKGROUND: Degranulation of eosinophils in target tissues is considered a key pathogenic event in major chronic eosinophilic diseases. However, because of a lack of appropriate methods, little is known about degranulation of eosinophils in common eosinophilic diseases. METHODS: Using transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis, a novel approach has been devised and validated to quantify eosinophil degranulation in human tissues (assessed in individual cells as percentage granules with structural signs of protein release). Biopsy specimens from patients with inflammatory bowel disease, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and nasal polyposis were evaluated. RESULTS: All conditions displayed a similar degree of local tissue eosinophilia, with no differences being observed in eosinophil numbers in the airway mucosa of patients with airway diseases and the colonic mucosa of those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In contrast, marked differences in the mean (SE) extent of eosinophil degranulation were observed between the patient groups; IBD 9.3 (1.4)% altered granules, artificial and natural allergen challenge induced allergic rhinitis 67.8 (6.8)% and 86.6 (3.0)%, respectively, asthma 18.1 (2)%, and nasal polyposis 46.6 (7.6)%. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first quantitative data which show that different eosinophilic conditions, despite having similar numbers of tissue eosinophils, may exhibit markedly different degranulation patterns. The present assessment of piecemeal degranulation would thus make it possible to delineate the conditions under which eosinophils are likely to contribute to disease processes. This novel type of analysis may also guide and validate anti-eosinophilic treatment options.}},
  author       = {{Erjefält, Jonas and Greiff, Lennart and Andersson, M and Ädelroth, E and Jeffery, P K and Persson, C G}},
  issn         = {{1468-3296}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{341--344}},
  publisher    = {{BMJ Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Thorax}},
  title        = {{Degranulation patterns of eosinophil granulocytes as determinants of eosinophil driven disease}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/thorax.56.5.341}},
  doi          = {{10.1136/thorax.56.5.341}},
  volume       = {{56}},
  year         = {{2001}},
}