Abstract
Peripheral blood neutrophils (neutros) and eosinophils (eos) were isolated from patients with visceral larval migrans and hypersensitivity reactions during the acute phase of illness, after full recovery, and from normal donors. Reactive eos were found at a wide range of densities (1.080-1.011) on metrizamide gradients. Normal eos were more homogeneous and denser (1.010-1.011) than neutros (1.080-1.090). The kinetics of O2- production after PMA stimulation, and peroxidase activity of disrupted cells were measured. Reactive eos of high density (HD, 1.011) and low density (LD, 1.080) were compared to normal HD eos.
1. The activation time (1 min) and initial rate (7-14 nmol/min/ 106 cells) of O2- production by normal eos and neutros were equivalent to each other and to reactive HD and LD eos.
2. The duration of O2- production by LD eos was 120-180 min, compared to 16-20 min by HD eos and by neutros.
3. Total O2- production by LD eos was 2-3 times that by HD eos.
4. LD eos contained 42 to 68% of the peroxidase of HD eos.
5. Resolution of eosinophilia in patients was accompanied by disappearance of LD eos and return of high total O2- production and low peroxidase levels to normal.
Reactive LD eos have lower granule enzyme content than HD eos, and have prolongation of the respiratory burst. These metabolic changes may reflect partial degranulation occurring with activation in vivo. The prolonged respiratory burst may contribute to the greater cytotoxicity of reactive eos in helminthic infections.
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shurin, S. REACTIVE EOSINOPHILS HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED IN VIVO. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 249 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00934
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00934
