CCR3 mRNA Expression in Bronchial Epithelial Cells and Various Cells in Allergic Inflammation

Abstract

BACKGROUND: RANTES and eotaxin are important chemokines involved in the activation and migration of eosinophils and are considered to play a major role in allergic inflammation. METHODS: In this study, we used RT-PCR to investigate the kinds of cells that express mRNA for CCR3, a common receptor of these chemokines, and eotaxin, a ligand for CCR3. RESULTS: CCR3 mRNA was expressed in eosinophils, peripheral mononuclear cells, an eosinophilic cell line (EoL-1), a bronchial epithelial cell line (NCI-H(292)), human endothelial cells and nasal washings from patients with allergic rhinitis. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the CCR3-eotaxin system plays an important role in generating inflammation, since these substances are expressed not only in cells implicated in activation or migration of eosinophils but also in various other cells involved in allergic inflammation.