Distinct expression of RANTES and GM-CSF by lipopolysaccharide in human nasal fibroblasts but not in other airway fibroblasts

Eosinophil infiltration of tissue is a hallmark of nasal polyposis and asth ma in both atopic and nonatopic patients, Structural cells like airway fibr oblasts are a rich source of cytokines and inflammatory mediators. In order to verify whether airway fibroblasts play a role in eosinophilic infiltrat ion, we investigated the release of eosinophil chemotactic and activating f actors from airway fibroblasts when stimulated with nonallergenic exogenous agents such as endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide; LPS). Using a number of prim ary human airway tissue-derived fibroblast lines, we demonstrated that LPS could induce the gene expression and production of RANTES (regulated and no rmal T cell expressed and presumably secreted) and granulocyte/macrophage c olony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) only in nasal but not in pharyngeal, trac heal, bronchial, and lung fibroblasts, This selective responsiveness of nas al fibroblasts to LPS was time and dose dependent, These findings suggest t hat nasal fibroblasts may play an important role in the recruitment and act ivation of eosinophils into nasal polyps through the release of RANTES and GM-CSF.