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Elevated concentrations of CCR 7 ligands in patients with eosinophilic pneumonia
Author(s) -
Nureki S.,
Miyazaki E.,
Ishi T.,
Ito T.,
Takenaka R.,
Ando M.,
Kumamoto T.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/all.12243
Subject(s) - bronchoalveolar lavage , eosinophilic pneumonia , medicine , c c chemokine receptor type 7 , ccl19 , pneumonia , immunology , pathology , lung , chemokine , inflammation , chemokine receptor
Background Previous studies suggest that dendritic cells and macrophages play an important role in inflammation of eosinophilic pneumonia. The mechanism of dendritic cell and macrophage accumulation into the lung, however, is unknown. Here, we hypothesized that CCR 7 ligands, CCL 19 and CCL 21, contribute to the accumulation of dendritic cells and alveolar macrophages in the inflamed lung of patients with eosinophilic pneumonia. Methods Concentrations of the CCR 7 ligands as well as CCL 16, CCL 17 and CCL 22 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of 53 patients with eosinophilic pneumonia, 29 patients with sarcoidosis, 18 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and 12 healthy volunteers were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Cell sources of CCR 7 ligands and CCR 7‐expressing cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were evaluated by immunocytochemistry. Results CCL 19 and CCL 21 levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were significantly higher in patients with eosinophilic pneumonia than in controls. Levels of CCL 19, but not CCL 21, were statistically correlated with the levels of CCL 16, CCL 17 and CCL 22 in patients with eosinophilic pneumonia. Immunocytochemistry revealed CCL 19 expression in dendritic cells, macrophages and T ‐lymphocytes harvested from patients with eosinophilic pneumonia, and CCR 7 expression in dendritic cells and macrophages. Levels of CCL 19, but not CCL 21, were significantly decreased after remission in patients with eosinophilic pneumonia. After provocation tests, CCL 19 levels were elevated in all patients with eosinophilic pneumonia. Conclusions These findings indicate that CCL 19 rather than CCL 21 may contribute to the accumulation of dendritic cells and macrophages in the inflamed lungs of patients with eosinophilic pneumonia.