Eosinophil active cytokines and surface analysis of eosinophils in Churg-Strauss syndrome

There are few reports regarding the measurement of cytokines and surface an alysis of eosinophils in Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS). To examine the patho physiology of CSS, concentrations of cytokines in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and surface antigens on peripheral blood eosinophils were analyzed in five patients with CSS. Concentrations of cytokines (inter leukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interle ukin-3 (IL-3) interleukin-5 (IL-5) and granulocyte/macrophage colony stimul ating factor (GM-CSF) were measured using ELISA. Surface antigens on eosino phils in peripheral blood were analyzed using flow cytometry. A concentrati on of interleukin-5 (IL-5) and TNF-alpha in serum was detected in five case s; however IL-1 beta, GM-CSF, and IL-3 were detected in 3 of 5, 2 of 5, and 1 of 5 patients, respectively. In BALF, TNF-alpha and IL-5 were detected i n 2 of 3 and 1 of 3 patients, respectively; however, neither IL-1 beta, GM- CSF, nor IL-3 was detected in any. Newly expressed surface antigens such as CD25, CD4, and CD69 were observed on peripheral blood eosinophils in five cases. CD54 and HLA-DR were expressed in 4 of 5 and 3 of 5 patients, respec tively. Eosinophils in peripheral blood are activated to various degrees, p ossibly depending on cytokine stimulation. This eosinophil activation may b e related to the clinical stage of CSS.