EFFECT OF HORMONES ON INCIDENCE OF UTERINE ESOSINOPHILIA IN RATS

Acupuncture Alleviates Menstrual Pain in Rat Model via Suppressing Eotaxin/CCR3 Axis to Weak EOS-MC Activation

Introduction

Emerging data show that chemokine-mediated inflammation is involved in the occurrence and maintenance of pain. Recent evidence suggests that eotaxin levels rise when dysmenorrhea happens. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether eotaxin/CC chemokine receptor 3 (CCR3) axis, a key regulatory pathway for eosinophils (EOS) recruitment, is involved in acupuncture analgesia for dysmenorrhea.

Methods

After the cold congealing dysmenorrhea (CCD) rat model prepared, animals received perpendicular needling (PN) and transverse needling (TN) at SP6, respectively, for 20 min. The CCR3 agonist CCL11 was administered 30 min prior to acupuncture. Pain behavior was assessed via a writhing response. The uterine contraction test was detected by an electrophysiological method. Eotaxin, histamine (HIS), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were evaluated by ELISA. The expression of CCR3 and histamine H1 receptor (H1R) was analyzed by RT-qPCR and Western blot. The expression of EOS, mast cells (MCs), eosinophil peroxidase (EPO), and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE), Toluidine Blue staining (TB), and immunohistochemistry, respectively.

Results

Acupuncture prominently attenuated the menstrual pain in CCD rats, particularly TN technique. Electrophysiological recording data showed that the increased uterine contractility was ameliorated by acupuncture. In addition, TN decreased the release of eotaxin, HIS, IL-6, and the expression of CCR3 and H1R. HE, TB staining, and immunohistochemistry experiments showed that the increased expression of EOS, MCs, EPO, and ECP in uterine tissues was reversed by TN. Furthermore, we found that the effects of TN against CCD-induced menstrual pain, increased ECP expression, and HIS level were abolished by CCL11.

Conclusion

TN alleviated menstrual pain by improving the uterine inflammatory environment via suppressing eotaxin/CCR3 axis to weak EOS-MC activation in CCD rats. The study findings support the acupuncture as a promising approach for dysmenorrhea, meanwhile, indicating the importance of performing appropriate needling technique.

CCR3 antagonist impairs estradiol-induced eosinophil migration to the uterus in ovariectomized mice

Eosinophils are abundant in the reproductive tract, contributing to the remodeling and successful implantation of the embryo. However, the mechanisms by which eosinophils migrate into the uterus and their relationship to edema are still not entirely clear, since there are a variety of chemotactic factors that can cause migration of these cells. Therefore, to evaluate the role of CCR3 in eosinophil migration, ovariectomized C57BL/6 mice were treated with CCR3 antagonist SB 328437 and 17β-estradiol. The hypothesis that the CCR3 receptor plays an important role in eosinophil migration to the mouse uterus was confirmed, because we observed reduction in eosinophil peroxidase activity in these antagonist-treated uteruses. The antagonist also influenced uterine hypertrophy, inhibiting edema formation. Finally, histological analysis of the orcein-stained uteruses showed that the antagonist reduced eosinophil migration together with edema. These data showed that the CCR3 receptor is an important target for studies that seek to clarify the functions of these cells in uterine physiology.

A simple method for the in situ detection of eosinophils

A simple and rapid method for identifying eosinophils in tissue sections is described. The assay is based on the incubation of frozen tissue sections with phenol red and the detection of cellular fluorescence. A one-to-one relationship was observed between cells exhibiting fluorescence following exposure to phenol red and eosinophils as identified by histochemical detection of eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) activity. Using the phenol red assay, eosinophils were detected in various eosinophil-infiltrated tissues, including uteri of rats from day 1 of pregnancy and uteri of prepubertal estrogen-treated rats. Intensity of the fluorescing eosinophils was dependent upon phenol red concentration and duration of incubation. The phenol red method of eosinophil identification was disrupted by co-incubation with resorcinol, an EPO inhibitor, or catalase, a hydrogen peroxide scavenger. The merits of this assay are its simplicity and compatibility with other procedures, such as histochemistry, immunocytochemistry, and in situ ligand-receptor binding.

Estrogen and progesterone receptors in vernal keratoconjunctivitis

PURPOSE

Sex-related influences have been implicated in the pathogenesis of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC), an allergic eosinophilic disease.

METHODS

The authors evaluated tarsal and bulbar conjunctival biopsies from seven patients with severe and symptomatic VKC for the presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors by using monoclonal antibodies with a peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique.

RESULTS

Both the epithelium and subepithelium of the tarsal and bulbar conjunctiva of patients with VKC, but not those of four nonatopic control subjects, showed intense positive staining for estrogen and progesterone receptors. Immunofluorescence colocalization of both estrogen and progesterone receptors with eosinophil cationic protein showed that approximately 70% of positive cells were eosinophils.

CONCLUSIONS

Sexual hormones, through their receptors, may influence the activity of eosinophils in patients with VKC.

Effect of eosinophil-degranulating estrogens on spleen eosinophils and white pulp/red pulp ratio

A role for eosinophils in the immune reaction has not been yet established. Considering that these leukocytes accumulate in lymphoid organs under glucocorticoid stimulation, we explored the possibility that they participate in the depression of immune reactions induced by these hormones and that they degranulate to exert this action. In this context, we investigated the dose effect of three estrogens on the number and degranulation of spleen red pulp eosinophils and on the percentage of spleen cross sectional area comprising white pulp. Estradiol-17 beta or 4 (OH) estradiol-17 beta increased red pulp eosinophils at low doses: 2 (OH) estradiol-17 beta increased them at a very high dose. The three estrogens degranulated the spleen eosinophils and decreased the lymphocyte containing spleen white pulp. We propose that the decrease in white pulp is a response mediated by agents released from degranulating eosinophils under the action of estrogen. Consequently, both estrogen-induced eosinophil degranulation and estrogen-induced increase in red pulp eosinophil numbers are conditions contributing to a decrease in white pulp volume. All above evidence supports the hypothesis that eosinophils are involved in immunoregulation by diminishing the number of lymphocytes contained in lymphoid organs.

Degranulatory action of estradiol on blood eosinophil leukocytes in vivo and in vitro

The degranulatory activity of estradiol was tested on blood eosinophil leukocytes in vivo and in vitro. Treatment of adult ovariectomized rats with 30 micrograms estradiol/100 g body wt. increased the percentage of degranulated eosinophils from 10% to about 70% at 6 or 24 h after treatment, and increased the rate of in vitro eosinophil degranulation of those eosinophils that were non-degranulated at the time of blood sample collection. The addition of estradiol to blood samples from untreated ovariectomized rats (0.05 micrograms/ml) increased the percentage of eosinophils degranulated in vitro at 1 h of incubation from 20% to near 60%. It is suggested that estrogen acts directly on the eosinophils, probably via specific hormone receptors. Considering the hypothesis that eosinophils are involved in the mediation of a group of responses to estrogen in the uterus, it is proposed that the hormone-induced degranulation of these cells may have physiological implications in the regulation of the intensity and duration of the eosinophil-mediated responses. In addition, estrogen-induced eosinophil degranulation may interfere with the action of eosinophils that have migrated to other target organs (lymphoid organs, etc.) under the action of other agents (glucocorticoid hormones, histamine, etc.) or conditions (immune reactions, etc.).

Elevated serum levels in human pregnancy of a molecule immunochemically similar to eosinophil granule major basic protein

We have shown that serum levels of a molecule immunochemically similar to eosinophil granule major basic protein (MBP) are elevated in pregnant women throughout gestation. MBP levels increase during gestation and plateau at approximately 7,500 ng/ml by the 20th wk (greater than 10-fold above normal). Levels return to normal after delivery, with a T1/2 of 13.7 d. The MBP in pregnancy serum is remarkably similar to the eosinophil granule MBP in that: (a) pregnancy MBP fully inhibits the binding of radiolabeled MBP standard in a double antibody radioimmunoassay; (b) this inhibition reaction is specific for human MBP because pregnancy serum produces no inhibition of the binding of radiolabeled guinea pig MBP in the guinea pig MBP radioimmunoassay; (c) in a two-site immunoradiometric assay for MBP, slopes of dose-response curves for pregnancy serum, purified MBP, and serum from a patient with hypereosinophilic syndrome are identical, and maximal binding is comparable; (d) reduction and alkylation of pregnancy sera increases measured MBP 100-fold, as previously shown for eosinophil granule MBP in serum; and (e) the MBP in pregnancy serum demonstrates the same pattern of heat lability as has been previously reported for MBP. Four observations have raised the possibility that the eosinophil is not the source of the MBP in pregnancy serum: (a) no correlation between serum MBP level and peripheral blood eosinophil count exists in pregnant women, in contrast to previous studies of patients with eosinophilia; (b) levels of three other eosinophil-associated proteins are normal or low in pregnancy sera, whereas the serum levels of these proteins are elevated in patients with eosinophilia; (c) the slopes of dose-response curves for pregnancy sera and MBP standards differ in the double antibody radioimmunoassay; and (d) the molecule in pregnancy serum elutes from Sephadex G-50 columns at the void volume, while eosinophil granule MBP and the MBP in serum of patients with eosinophilia elute at a volume consistent with the previously established molecular weight of 9,300. These findings suggest that the MBP in pregnancy serum is derived from a source other than the eosinophil.

Distribution of maternal immunoglobulins in the mouse uterus and embryo in the days after implantation

The distribution of maternal immunoglobulins in the mouse uterus and embryo in the days after implantation has been studied on sections incubated with sheep Fab anti-mouse immunoglobulins labeled with peroxidase. At the time of implantation the blastocyst is already surrounded by immunoglobulins that are also present in the blastocoel and early endoderm; uterine glands contain large amounts of immunoglobulins. Later, immunoglobulins are concentrated in the vacuolated endoderm, then the visceral yolk sac and the embryonic gut. They are also present in the various cavities of the embryo. Trophoblast cells progressively contain increasing amounts of immunoglobulins. In the decidua, immunoglobulins coat the cells and also occasionally appear as cytoplasmic granules. The early presence of maternal immunoglobulins may represent the transfer of serum proteins as a means of nutrition for the embryo. It is also very likely to have an immunological significance in the protection of the embryo.

Dynamics of eosinophils in the uterus after oestrogen administration

To investigase the role of the eosinophil leukocytes in the early oestrogenic responses in the uterus, the kinetics of oestrogen-induced uterine eosinophilia and other parameters of oestrogen stimulation were studied at very early times. Uterine eosinophils increase as early as 5 min after an intravenous injection of oestradiol to immature rats, much earlier than several other changes in the early parameters of oestrogen stimulation. Large number of uterine eosinophils are found attached to the wall of small uterine blood vessels at early times. To elucidate the mechanisms involved in the specific attraction of eosinophils to the uterus in the presence of oestrogens, the in vivo localisation of oestrogens in the rat uterus at early times was studied using a radioautographic technique. Oestrogen receptors were found in the surface of eosinophils and in the wall of small uterine blood vessels. This simultaneous presence of both oestrogen receptors is proposed to explain the specific attachment of eosinophils to uterine blood vessels in the presence of oestrogens, which is the initial step toward eosinophil penetration into the uterus.

Changes in numbers of acidophilic and basophilic connective tissue granulated cells in the intestine of the rat during the estrous cycle

Changes in physiological reproductive states of female Long-Evans hooded rats were directly correlated with changes in the concentration of acidophilic and basophilic connective tissue granulated cells in the lamina propria of the duodenum. Acidophilic granulated cell numbers were significantly higher at estrus and metestrus than at other stages of the estrous cycle or in the immature state. apcidophilic granulated cell numbers during pregnancy were not significantly different from cell numbers quantified during metestrus, diestrus, or proestrus, but were significantly lower than cell numbers during estrus. Late lactation (21-25 days) was associated with significant decreases in the numbers of acidophilic granulated cells from numbers observed during the estrous cycle and during pregnancy. Basophilic granulated cell numbers did not differ significantly during the estrous cycle, although the highest numbers were observed during proestrus. Basophilic granulated cell numbers were significantly higher during pregnancy than during the estrous cycle. Basophilic granulated cell counts in late lactation were comparable to numbers quantified in estrus, metestrus, and diestrus, but were significantly lower than during proestrus and pregnancy.

The eosinophilic leukocyte. Fine structure studies of changes in the uterus during the estrous cycle

This study has presented the fine structure changes in the eosinophilic leukocyte in the rat uterus during the estrous cycle. Eosinophils were seen to emigrate into the uterine connective tissues from the blood stream. Just prior to, during estrus, and 1 day postestrus, eosinophilic leukocytes underwent lysis releasing their contents into the extracellular spaces and both whole eosinophils and individual granules from lysed cells were ingested by resident macrophages. No phagocytic activity by eosinophils was observed. The possible relationship of the turnover of eosinophils to the profound morphologic and chemical changes in the uterus during the estrous cycle was discussed.