Cytokines potentiate human eosinophil superoxide generation in the presence of Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester

The eosinophilic (EOS) leukocyte has been implicated as a primary effector cell in inflammatory and allergic diseases. Cytokines are among the mediators of inflammatory and allergic diseases which modulate the effector functions of EOS. Certain cytokines, elevated in patients with various allergies, are thought to modulate EOS reactive oxygen species superoxide anion and nitric oxide (NO) responses. Though EOS transcribe and translate mRNA for inducible NO synthase, the effects of cytokines on NO generation remain largely unknown. Thus, we have investigated effects of IL-3, IL-5, GM-CSF, IL-8, RANTES and the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ, on superoxide anion and NO generation by clone 15 HL-60 human eosinophilic cells. Cytokine treatments (3 and 18 h) resulted in production of small amounts of superoxide anion which were enhanced by the NO inhibitor l-NAME. In the presence of l-NAME, PMA (1 nM) stimulation significantly increased superoxide anion generation following 3 h treatments with IL-3, TNF-α or IFN-γ. Eighteen hour cytokine treatments with GM-CSF, IL-8, RANTES, IFN-γ or TNF-α primed the cells for enhanced reactive oxygen species following exposure to an EOS stimulant. Inhibition of NO synthesis resulted in increased levels of superoxide anion. Collectively, these results suggest that an environment of proinflammatory cytokines may potentiate the generation of reactive oxygen species by EOS. These results further suggest that at an inflammatory site or during an allergic response, EOS may concomitantly synthesize NO and generate superoxide anion, fractions of which may rapidly react to form the potent oxidant peroxynitrite.