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Dendritic cells in normal and asthmatic airways: expression of the ? subunit of the high affinity immunoglobulin E receptor (Fc?RI-?)

Dendritic cells in normal and asthmatic airways: expression of the ? subunit of the high affinity immunoglobulin E receptor (Fc?RI-?)
Dendritic cells in normal and asthmatic airways: expression of the ? subunit of the high affinity immunoglobulin E receptor (Fc?RI-?)
BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) plays an important role in asthma, with total serum IgE levels closely related to both clinical expression of the disease and airway hyperresponsiveness. IgE binds to a high affinity cell-surface receptor (Fc epsilon RI) which is present on mast cells and which has also recently been demonstrated on cutaneous dendritic cells. If pulmonary dendritic cells were also able to express this receptor, this would have important implications with regard to their potential role in asthma.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were to investigate the expression of the alpha subunit of the high affinity IgE receptor (Fc epsilon RI-alpha) in normal and asthmatic airways, and to analyse its cellular provenance with particular emphasis on the dendritic cell.

METHODS: Bronchial biopsy specimens were obtained using fibreoptic bronchoscopy from 10 atopic asthmatics and nine non-atopic non-asthmatic control subjects. Specimens were processed into glycolmethacrylate resin and analysed by immunohistochemistry using specific monoclonal antibodies against Fc epsilon RI-alpha, and against tryptase and CD1a, markers for mast cells and dendritic cells, respectively.

RESULTS: The numbers of dendritic cells were significantly higher in the airways of asthmatics compared with those of control subjects (P < 0.02). Analysis of sequential sections revealed that the alpha subunit of Fc epsilon RI was localized to both mast cells and dendritic cells. The proportion of dendritic cells expressing Fc epsilon RI-alpha was significantly increased in the asthmatic group (P < 0.003).

CONCLUSION: These results support the hypothesis that dendritic cells play an important role in allergic asthma although the functional significance of Fc epsilon RI-alpha expression needs further investigation.
asthma, biopsy, bronchoscopy, dendritic cells, Fc?RI, immunoglobulin ?
0954-7894
648-655
Tunon-de-Lara, J.M.
49caf870-d8d1-486f-99ae-51fedd2622fd
Redington, A.E.
ecaab7c4-c44f-4f52-899a-18993a796c2e
Bradding, P.
39990c99-3c21-44b6-b1f7-084eddf29722
Church, M.K.
dad189d5-866e-4ae1-b005-0d87f74282b8
Hartley, J.A.
73be7079-482a-4843-8068-09918db3cfee
Semper, A.E.
30f48e4a-8941-4707-b367-92bc9bc2b2af
Holgate, S.T.
2e7c17a9-6796-436e-8772-1fe6d2ac5edc
Tunon-de-Lara, J.M.
49caf870-d8d1-486f-99ae-51fedd2622fd
Redington, A.E.
ecaab7c4-c44f-4f52-899a-18993a796c2e
Bradding, P.
39990c99-3c21-44b6-b1f7-084eddf29722
Church, M.K.
dad189d5-866e-4ae1-b005-0d87f74282b8
Hartley, J.A.
73be7079-482a-4843-8068-09918db3cfee
Semper, A.E.
30f48e4a-8941-4707-b367-92bc9bc2b2af
Holgate, S.T.
2e7c17a9-6796-436e-8772-1fe6d2ac5edc

Tunon-de-Lara, J.M., Redington, A.E., Bradding, P., Church, M.K., Hartley, J.A., Semper, A.E. and Holgate, S.T. (1996) Dendritic cells in normal and asthmatic airways: expression of the ? subunit of the high affinity immunoglobulin E receptor (Fc?RI-?). Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 26 (6), 648-655. (doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1996.tb00591.x). (PMID:8809422)

Record type: Article

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) plays an important role in asthma, with total serum IgE levels closely related to both clinical expression of the disease and airway hyperresponsiveness. IgE binds to a high affinity cell-surface receptor (Fc epsilon RI) which is present on mast cells and which has also recently been demonstrated on cutaneous dendritic cells. If pulmonary dendritic cells were also able to express this receptor, this would have important implications with regard to their potential role in asthma.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were to investigate the expression of the alpha subunit of the high affinity IgE receptor (Fc epsilon RI-alpha) in normal and asthmatic airways, and to analyse its cellular provenance with particular emphasis on the dendritic cell.

METHODS: Bronchial biopsy specimens were obtained using fibreoptic bronchoscopy from 10 atopic asthmatics and nine non-atopic non-asthmatic control subjects. Specimens were processed into glycolmethacrylate resin and analysed by immunohistochemistry using specific monoclonal antibodies against Fc epsilon RI-alpha, and against tryptase and CD1a, markers for mast cells and dendritic cells, respectively.

RESULTS: The numbers of dendritic cells were significantly higher in the airways of asthmatics compared with those of control subjects (P < 0.02). Analysis of sequential sections revealed that the alpha subunit of Fc epsilon RI was localized to both mast cells and dendritic cells. The proportion of dendritic cells expressing Fc epsilon RI-alpha was significantly increased in the asthmatic group (P < 0.003).

CONCLUSION: These results support the hypothesis that dendritic cells play an important role in allergic asthma although the functional significance of Fc epsilon RI-alpha expression needs further investigation.

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More information

Published date: June 1996
Keywords: asthma, biopsy, bronchoscopy, dendritic cells, Fc?RI, immunoglobulin ?
Organisations: Clinical & Experimental Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 362524
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/362524
ISSN: 0954-7894
PURE UUID: 8b74e3f2-86ed-41cc-83ef-0caabca996fe

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Date deposited: 26 Feb 2014 12:49
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 16:09

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Contributors

Author: J.M. Tunon-de-Lara
Author: A.E. Redington
Author: P. Bradding
Author: M.K. Church
Author: J.A. Hartley
Author: A.E. Semper
Author: S.T. Holgate

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