AJP - Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Vol 257, Issue 2 109-L115, Copyright © 1989 by American Physiological Society
Bronchial epithelial cells release chemotactic activity for lymphocytes
R. A. Robbins, S. Shoji, J. Linder, G. L. Gossman, L. A. Allington, L. W. Klassen and S. I. Rennard
Research Service, Omaha Veterans Administration Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68105.
Lymphocytes can frequently be observed in association with bronchial
tissues. One mechanism that might account for this association is that
bronchial epithelial cells might release chemotactic factors for
lymphocytes. To test this hypothesis, bovine bronchial epithelial cells
were cultured in serum-free media, and the supernatant fluids were
harvested and evaluated for lymphocyte chemotactic activity using a
blind-well chamber technique. Media alone attracted few lymphocytes (12 +/-
2 cells/high power field), but in contrast, there was a significant
increase in the number of cells attracted by supernatant fluids obtained
from bronchial epithelial cell cultures (40 +/- 6 cells/high power field, P
= 0.002). The activity was dose dependent and was demonstrated to be
chemotactic activity by checkerboard analysis. Partial characterization of
the activity revealed it was not extractable into ethyl acetate but was
partially inactivated by trypsin and heat (100 degrees C, 15 min). The
responding cells were predominantly T-helper lymphocytes as shown by
monoclonal antibody staining, with a smaller proportion being
B-lymphocytes. Molecular sieve column chromatography revealed multiple
peaks of lymphocyte chemotactic activity, with three of the peaks
preferentially attracting T-helper lymphocytes and one of the peaks
preferentially attracting B-lymphocytes. These data demonstrate that
bronchial epithelial cells can release chemotactic factors for lymphocytes
and suggest that bronchial epithelial cells may modulate their local
population of immune effector cells.
