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The mechanisms regulating the selective migration and degranulation of eosinophils in the asthmatic lung and the subsequent development of airways hyperreactivity (AHR) have not been fully delineated. In this investigation, we have employed a novel transgene model to facilitate the dissection of the contributions of IL-5 and/or eotaxin to eosinophil function in the absence of complex tissue signals derived from the allergic lung. Gene transfer of IL-5 and/or eotaxin to the lungs of naive mice induced a pronounced and selective airways eosinophilia, but did not result in eosinophil degranulation or AHR. Airways eosinophilia occurred independently of the induction of a blood eosinophilia, but was markedly augmented by the coexpression of both cytokines and/or by the transient mobilization of eosinophils from the bone marrow by the administration of i.v. IL-5. However, for eosinophil degranulation and AHR to occur, the inhalation of Ag was required in association with IL-5 and eotaxin expression. Investigations in IL-5-deficient mice linked eosinophilia, and not solely IL-5 and eotaxin, with the induction of AHR. Furthermore, eosinophil degranulation and AHR were dependent on CD4+ T cells. Importantly, this investigation shows that IL-5 regulates eosinophilia within the lung as well as in the circulation and also amplifies eotaxin-induced chemotaxis in the airway compartment. Moreover, the interplay between these cytokines, CD4+ T cells, and factors generated by Ag inhalation provides fundamental signals for eosinophil degranulation and the induction of AHR.

The immunoregulatory functions of IL-4 and IL-5 have identified these cytokines as primary targets for the resolution of airways inflammation and bronchial hyperreactivity in asthma. However, the individual contribution of each of these cytokines and of IL-5-regulated eosinophilia to the induction of airways hyperreactivity in mouse models of asthma remains highly controversial. In this investigation, we have used IL-4- and IL-5-deficient mice of the same genetic background in combination with inhibitory mAbs to these cytokines to identify unequivocally the contribution of these factors to the induction of airways hyperreactivity. Sensitization and aeroallergen challenge of wild-type mice with OVA induced pathological changes to the respiratory epithelium, airways eosinophilia, and hyperreactivity to beta-methacholine. Inhibition of the actions of IL-4 and/or IL-5 did not abolish airways hyperreactivity, and in the case of IL-4-deficient mice pretreated with anti-IL-5 mAb, airways hyperreactivity persisted in the absence of pronounced airways inflammation. Airways hyperreactivity was abolished only by anti-CD4+ mAb treatment. However, aeroallergen challenge of IL-5-/- mice showed that morphologic changes to the airways were critically linked to IL-5 and eosinophilia. This investigation demonstrates the existence in BALB/c mice of a novel CD4+ T cell pathway for modulating airways hyperreactivity. These findings may provide an explanation for the dissociation of airways eosinophilia from the development of airways hyperreactivity observed in some cases of asthma and in animal models of this disease.

The rejection of neovascularized pig proislet (islet precursor) xenografts in mice is a CD4 T cell-dependent process involving invasion of the graft site mainly by host CD4 T cells and eosinophils. We previously identified CD4 T cell-dependent enhancement of intragraft IL-3, IL-4, and IL-5 mRNA expression during acute xeno-rejection in CBA/H recipient mice. In the present study we investigated the role of each cytokine and the involvement of eosinophils in the rejection of pig proislet xenografts using cytokine gene knockout mice (IL-4 -/- and IL-5 -/-) and the treatment of transplant recipients with anti-IL-3 mAb. In IL-4 -/- mice, IL-5 -/- recipient animals, and anti-IL-3 mAb-treated CBA/H mice, eosinophil accumulation at the transplant site was inhibited or ablated, but the kinetics of xenograft rejection was unaltered. Prolonged xenograft survival was only achieved in anti-CD4 mAb-treated mice and consistently correlated with the absence of intragraft IL-3, IL-4, and IL-5 mRNA enhancement. Together these findings indicate that neither IL-3, nor IL-4, nor IL-5 individually plays an obligatory role in the rejection process. The cytokine mRNA profile correlating with the lack of eosinophil recruitment was variable; the data suggest that IL-4 regulates eosinophil involvement in the xeno-rejection reaction indirectly via effects on IL-5 and IL-3 transcript expression. There is also suggestive evidence that IL-5 may influence IL-3 and IL-4 mRNA expression via feedback inhibition. Eosinophils, therefore, do not play an essential role in the rejection of neovascularized pig proislet xenografts in mice.

The TCATTT-containing element extending from -61 to -41 of the mouse IL-5 gene is highly conserved in the corresponding region of the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) gene and has been previously shown to be involved in regulating inducible GM-CSF gene expression. By using stable transfection assays in the mouse Th2 clone D10.G4.1, we show that the TCATTT-containing element is also involved in the regulation of inducible IL-5 gene expression. The mouse IL-5 and GM-CSF homologues of this element were found by gel shift analysis to form DNA-nuclear protein complexes of similar electrophoretic mobility under conditions in which expression of these genes is induced. However, comparative studies using extracts of D10.G4.1 cells treated with the cellular activators Con A and PMA and the inhibitors cycloheximide and cyclosporin A indicated that the binding activities to the conserved elements in the IL-5 and GM-CSF genes (designated NF-IL-5A and NF-GM-CSFA, respectively) are regulated by different signaling pathways. In addition, NF-IL-5A is not induced in the Th1 clone HDK-1 which does not express the IL-5 gene. The strong correlation between the signal-dependent and cell-specific modulation of IL-5 and GM-CSF gene expression patterns and the binding activities of NF-IL-5A and NF-GM-CSFA suggests that these nuclear proteins are involved in the transduction of T cell activation signals to the transcriptional machinery of these genes through their interactions with their respective TCATTT-containing elements.

The signaling mechanisms that regulate lymphokine gene expression in the murine Th2 clone D10.G4.1 were investigated by comparing the steady state mRNA levels of six lymphokine genes in response to cellular treatment with various activators and inhibitors of several key signaling pathways. A surprising degree of differential regulation was found. All of the genes studied (IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, and granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF) were induced by the lectin Con A and the TCR idiotype-specific mAb 3D3. However, the induction of the IL-3, IL-4, and GM-CSF genes, but not the IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10 genes, was strongly inhibited by cyclosporin A. Furthermore, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10 genes were independently induced by IL-1 alpha, the phorbol ester PMA, and by forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase. Results of studies performed with use of the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 indicated that elevation of intracellular Ca2+ levels is sufficient to fully induce IL-3 and IL-4 gene expression. Protein kinase C activation was also required for full induction of the GM-CSF gene and seemed to be obligatory for maximal IL-5 gene expression. The patterns of mRNA induction by the different stimuli broadly correlated with increased rates of transcription. In addition to their induction by IL-1 alpha, the IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10 genes were also induced by mAbs to CD2 and to CD45. In contrast, adding CD45 mAb strongly inhibited the induction of IL-3, IL-4, and GM-CSF genes through TCR stimulation. These results indicate that distinct groups of lymphokine genes may be differentially regulated by signaling pathways that are activated by stimulation of the TCR and other cell surface molecules.

The enzyme 20-alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20 alpha SDH) has been proposed as a T lymphocyte marker that is specifically induced by interleukin 3. We have examined the expression of 20 alpha SDH and its relationship to interleukin 3 responsiveness in other hemopoietic lineages. The enzyme is expressed at high levels in the bone marrow of athymic nu/nu mice, but only at low levels in nu/nu spleen and normal adult bone marrow. 20 alpha SDH is induced in nu/nu spleen and in normal fetal liver cells by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) as well as by interleukin 3. In longer term cultures of fetal liver and adult marrow, macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) also induces the enzyme, which is expressed in proliferating adherent macrophages. The high levels of 20 alpha SDH in purified bone marrow-derived macrophages are maintained by M-CSF, GM-CSF, or interleukin 3. Expression of 20 alpha SDH in these cells is associated with resistance to growth inhibition by progesterone. Additional evidence against the restriction of 20 alpha SDH to T lymphocytes is found in its presence in peritoneal macrophages, myelomonocytic and macrophage-like cell lines, and the L929 fibrosarcoma line. We conclude that 20 alpha SDH is a normal enzyme of proliferating hemopoietic cells irrespective of their lineage or growth factor responsiveness.