Effect of Neutrophil-derived Eosinophil Chemotactic Factor (ECF) in Human and Guinea Pig Skin

Abstract

The in vivo effectiveness of eosinophil chemotactic factor (ECF), secreted in vitro by human neutrophils (PMN) during phagocytosis, is tested in 2 model systems. Injection of ECF into guinea pig ears causes a preferential attraction of eosinophils with time that is more marked in animals with preexisting eosinophilia. In the same model system, activated serum attracts fewer eosinophils and more PMN. In human skin windows, ECF and activated serum are equally effective on a quantitative basis, but ECF is more selective for eosinophils in patients with eosinophilia. With normal controls, ECF and activated serum attract PMN equally well. The studies confirm previous in vitro observations on the properties of ECF and suggest a potentially significant role of this factor during pathological processes.

From Eosinophil Chemotactic Factor of Anaphylaxis to Leukotriene B₄ – Chemistry, Biology and Functional Significance of Eosinophil Chemotactic Leukotrienes in Dermatology

“…Eosinophils were more active compared to neutrophils. The same observations were made in human skin windows, with atopies having a marked eosinophil exudation compared to the neutrophil emigration in normal volunteers [32]. Injections of ECF into human dermis caused almost no erythema, compared to histamine, but a more pronounced induration com pared to PAF, 1CT7 M ( fig.…”

“…Thus, both ECF and LTB4 are biologically active in human and guinea pig skin: A more careful study with atopies will have to confirm a selective action of LTB4 on eosinophils, as has been shown for ECF [32] and PAF [10] in the past.…”

Neutrophil-Derived Eosinophil Chemotactic Factor Production Induced by Immune Complexes

“…Immune complexes are powerful activa tors of the complement cascade, generating a fragment of C5 with chemotactic activity for several types of leukocytes [27] includ ing eosinophils [17], Complement-derived eosinophil chemotactic activity is not as selective for eosinophils in vivo as is ECF derived from PMN [10], Another eosinophil chemotactic factor is produced by interac tion of immune complexes with lympho cytes [4]. This lymphokine is only chemo tactic in the presence of the sensitizing anti gen, and is, thus, different from another lymphokine, the eosinophil stimulation pro moter [5].…”