This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Linch, S. N.
Right arrow Articles by Gold, J. A.
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Linch, S. N.
Right arrow Articles by Gold, J. A.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Infection and Immunity, November 2009, p. 4976-4982, Vol. 77, No. 11
0019-9567/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.00306-09
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Mouse Eosinophils Possess Potent Antibacterial Properties In Vivo{triangledown}

Stefanie N. Linch,1 Ann M. Kelly,1 Erin T. Danielson,1 Ralph Pero,2 James J. Lee,2 and Jeffrey A. Gold1*

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon,1 Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona2

Received 17 March 2009/ Returned for modification 28 April 2009/ Accepted 15 August 2009

Eosinophils are best known as the predominant cellular infiltrate associated with asthma and parasitic infections. Recently, numerous studies have documented the presence of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) on the surfaces of eosinophils, suggesting that these leukocytes may participate in the recognition and killing of viruses and bacteria. However, the significance of this role in the innate immune response to bacterial infection is largely unknown. Here we report a novel role for eosinophils as antibacterial defenders in the host response. Isolated mouse eosinophils possessed antipseudomonal properties in vitro. In vivo, interleukin-5 transgenic mice, which have profound eosinophilia, demonstrated improved clearance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa introduced into the peritoneal cavity. The findings of improved bacterial clearance following adoptive transfer of eosinophils, and impaired bacterial clearance in mice with a congenital eosinophil deficiency, established that this effect was eosinophil specific. The data presented also demonstrate that eosinophils mediate this antibacterial effect in part through the release of cationic secondary granule proteins. Specifically, isolated eosinophil granules had antibacterial properties in vitro, and administration of eosinophil granule extracts significantly improved bacterial clearance in vivo. These data suggest a potent yet underappreciated antibacterial role for eosinophils in vivo, specifically for eosinophil granules. Moreover, the data suggest that the administration of eosinophil-derived products may represent a viable adjuvant therapy for septic or bacteremic patients in the intensive care unit.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Oregon Health and Science University, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Mail Code UHN67, Portland, OR 97239. Phone: (503) 418-1496. Fax: (503) 418-1497. E-mail: goldje{at}ohsu.edu

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 24 August 2009.

Editor: J. B. Bliska

Infection and Immunity, November 2009, p. 4976-4982, Vol. 77, No. 11
0019-9567/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.00306-09
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»