T lymphocytes and eosinophils are important components of the inflammatory cell infiltrate in bronchial mucosa in asthma. Because activated lymphocytes migrate through the thoracic duct and the general circulation to remote glandular and mucosal sites, we initiated this study to evaluate pathological abnormalities and immunoreactivity for interleukin (IL) 3, IL-5, and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) of intestinal mucosa in bronchial asthma. 15 asthmatic patients, 8 nonasthmatic patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 6 atopic nonasthmatic healthy controls, and 6 nonatopic healthy controls were studied. Duodenal biopsies were performed by endoscopy. A significantly increased number of intraepithelial lymphocytes and eosinophils and a significant accumulation of mononuclear cells (lymphocytes and mast cells) and eosinophils in the lamina propria were detected in asthmatics and atopic controls. Immunostaining with antibodies directed against IL-3, IL-5, and GM-CSF was positive in asthmatics and atopic controls, whereas no staining was observed in nonatopic controls and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Combined ultrastructural study and immunogold labeling demonstrated that IL-3, IL-5, and GM-CSF were localized in eosinophils and mast cells. Although devoid of gastrointestinal symptoms, asthmatics and asymptomatic atopics had duodenal pathological abnormalities mimicking those observed in the bronchial mucosa in asthma, suggesting that the whole mucosal immune system is involved in bronchial asthma.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
1 December 1995
Article|
December 01 1995
Immunoreactivity for interleukin 3 and 5 and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor of intestinal mucosa in bronchial asthma.
B Wallaert,
B Wallaert
Service de Pneumologie et Immuno-allergologie, Hôpital A. Calmette, Lille, France.
Search for other works by this author on:
P Desreumaux,
P Desreumaux
Service de Pneumologie et Immuno-allergologie, Hôpital A. Calmette, Lille, France.
Search for other works by this author on:
M C Copin,
M C Copin
Service de Pneumologie et Immuno-allergologie, Hôpital A. Calmette, Lille, France.
Search for other works by this author on:
I Tillie,
I Tillie
Service de Pneumologie et Immuno-allergologie, Hôpital A. Calmette, Lille, France.
Search for other works by this author on:
A Benard,
A Benard
Service de Pneumologie et Immuno-allergologie, Hôpital A. Calmette, Lille, France.
Search for other works by this author on:
J F Colombel,
J F Colombel
Service de Pneumologie et Immuno-allergologie, Hôpital A. Calmette, Lille, France.
Search for other works by this author on:
B Gosselin,
B Gosselin
Service de Pneumologie et Immuno-allergologie, Hôpital A. Calmette, Lille, France.
Search for other works by this author on:
A B Tonnel,
A B Tonnel
Service de Pneumologie et Immuno-allergologie, Hôpital A. Calmette, Lille, France.
Search for other works by this author on:
A Janin
A Janin
Service de Pneumologie et Immuno-allergologie, Hôpital A. Calmette, Lille, France.
Search for other works by this author on:
B Wallaert
Service de Pneumologie et Immuno-allergologie, Hôpital A. Calmette, Lille, France.
P Desreumaux
Service de Pneumologie et Immuno-allergologie, Hôpital A. Calmette, Lille, France.
M C Copin
Service de Pneumologie et Immuno-allergologie, Hôpital A. Calmette, Lille, France.
I Tillie
Service de Pneumologie et Immuno-allergologie, Hôpital A. Calmette, Lille, France.
A Benard
Service de Pneumologie et Immuno-allergologie, Hôpital A. Calmette, Lille, France.
J F Colombel
Service de Pneumologie et Immuno-allergologie, Hôpital A. Calmette, Lille, France.
B Gosselin
Service de Pneumologie et Immuno-allergologie, Hôpital A. Calmette, Lille, France.
A B Tonnel
Service de Pneumologie et Immuno-allergologie, Hôpital A. Calmette, Lille, France.
A Janin
Service de Pneumologie et Immuno-allergologie, Hôpital A. Calmette, Lille, France.
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1995) 182 (6): 1897–1904.
Citation
B Wallaert, P Desreumaux, M C Copin, I Tillie, A Benard, J F Colombel, B Gosselin, A B Tonnel, A Janin; Immunoreactivity for interleukin 3 and 5 and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor of intestinal mucosa in bronchial asthma.. J Exp Med 1 December 1995; 182 (6): 1897–1904. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.182.6.1897
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Sign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionSuggested Content
Email alerts
Advertisement