Summary
We have established a culture system for the development of eosinophils from murine embryonic stem (ES) cells. After transferring ES cells from embryonic fibroblast cells onto macrophage colony‐stimulating factor‐deficient stromal cells, OP9, ES cells were cultured in the presence of interleukin (IL)‐5 with either IL‐3 or granulocyte–macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) for 20 d to obtain approximately 50% eosinophils. Electron microscopy confirmed the presence of crystallized major basic protein (MBP) in the granules of some of these cells. Neither IL‐5, IL‐3, GM‐CSF nor eotaxin alone could induce eosinophils as efficiently as the conditions described above. Eotaxin induced eosinophil development in combination with either IL‐3 or IL‐5. Levels of GATA‐1, Friend of GATA (FOG)‐1, PU.1, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)α, C/EBPβ, IL‐3 receptor α (IL‐3Rα), GM‐CSF receptor α (GM‐CSFRα), and MBP mRNAs were increased in ES cells 10 d after transfer onto OP9 cells. In contrast, C/EBPɛ, IL‐5Rα, and eosinophil peroxidase mRNAs were induced in response to IL‐3 and IL‐5 after transfer onto OP9 cells. Eosinophils that developed in this system expressed Gr‐1, F4/80, B220, CCR3, IL‐3Rα, IL‐5Rα, and DX5. Finally, eosinophils developed from ES cells produced reactive oxygen species in response to Leishmania as do peripheral blood eosinophils.
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