Interleukin-5 receptors on human lung eosinophils after segmental allergen challenge.

BACKGROUND: IL-5 is a specific cytokine for eosinophil accumulation, activation and prolongation of survival and can be recovered in elevated concentrations from the bronchoalveolar compartment in atopic asthma following allergen challenge. OBJECTIVE: The action of IL-5 is mediated via the specific IL-5 receptor-alpha (IL-5Ralpha). Although in vitro data suggest that IL-5R expression is regulated by cytokines such as IL-3, IL-5 and GM-CSF, IL-5R regulation in vivo and its kinetics following allergen provocation are incompletely understood. METHODS: We investigated IL-5R regulation in vivo following segmental allergen provocation (SAP) with an individually standardized dose of allergen in 12 patients with atopic asthma. Lavage was performed 10 min and 18 h (eight patients) and 10 min and 42 h (eight patients) after allergen challenge. In addition to differential cell counts, IL-5Ralpha was measured by flow cytometry and IL-5 concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: IL-5Ralpha expression decreased significantly on peripheral blood and on BAL eosinophils 18 and 42 h after SAP. In contrast, IL-5 concentrations increased significantly in BAL fluid 18 and 42 h after SAP. In four and two patients, respectively, there were detectable IL-5 concentrations in serum 18 or 42 h after allergen exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Although there was no correlation between IL-5 concentrations and IL-5Ralpha expression on eosinophils in BAL, our data support previous in vitro and in vivo findings of a negative feedback mechanism between IL-5 concentrations and IL-5Ralpha expression on eosinophils.

[Prognosis of lymphogranulomatosis (stage III B-IV) treated with drugs--results of a retrospective 10 year study]. / Zur Prognose der Lymphogranulomatose (Stadium III B-IV) unter Chemotherapie--Ergebnisse einer retrospektiven 10-Jahres-Studie.

With the help of survival curves of 91 patients with histologically ascertained lymphogranulomatosis a report on experiences concerning the prognostic importance of different factors is given. The examination is based on a retrospective analysis of a well documented number of patients who were chemotherapeutically treated from 1967--1976 in the medical outpatient department and the medical clinic of the Erfurt Academy of Medicine. We found on the basis of the retrospective study that the following factors deteriorate the prognosis: Clinical stage IV, presence of general symptoms, type poor in lymphocytes. Older age at making the diagnosis as well as male sex also reveal a worse prognosis as to the 3-year-survival rate than the comparative groups. Furthermore it was shown that the quality of remission after initial chemotherapy is of decisive prognostic valency. When cytostatic combination schemata were used for the induction of the remission the survival rates could be improved. The problems of the remission-keeping chemotherapy are entered.