Contribution of CD54 to human eosinophil and neutrophil superoxide production

We have reported that CD54 on eosinophils is involved in eosinophil degranu lation. However, the role of CD54 in eosinophil and neutrophil superoxide p roduction is still uncertain. We assessed the effect of CD54 on eosinophils and neutrophils in recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating f actor (rGM-CSF)- or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)- induced superoxide pro duction through CD18. Anti-CD54 monoclonal antibody attenuated leukocyte ag gregation and superoxide production of rGM-CSF- or PMA-stimulated neutrophi ls and PMA-stimulated eosinophils. Anti-CD18 monoclonal antibody or theophy lline attenuated superoxide production of eosinophils and neutrophils stimu lated by either stimuli. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated CD54 express ion on freshly isolated neutrophils but not on freshly isolated eosinophils . CD54 newly expressed on eosinophils reached its peak expression 30 min af ter PMA stimulation. The increase in CD18 and CD54 expression on neutrophil s caused by rGM-CSF stimulation was partially inhibited by theophylline. Th ese data demonstrated that CD54 and CD18 interaction of eosinophils or neut rophils is involved in superoxide production and that the inhibition of sup eroxide production by theophylline may be at least partly due to the inhibi tion of CD54 and CD18.