Adhesion molecule expression on eosinophils in idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonia

Idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonia (IEP) is characterized by the accumulation of eosinophils in the alveolar spaces and the interstitium of the lung, frequently accompanied by peripheral eosinophilia. To clarify the roles of adhesion molecules of eosinophils in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic pneumonia, we analysed their expression by eosinophil and T-lymphocyte populations in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) obtained from 11 patients with eosinophilic pneumonia, using flow cytometric methods. Cell differentials in BALF showed increased numbers of eosinophils, the increase correlating with the number of activated T-lymphocytes in BALF. The expressions of CD11a (lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1)), CD11b (Mac-1), CD18, CD49d (very late activation antigen-4 (VLA-4)), and CD62L (L-selectin) by eosinophils in BALF were all lower than those of eosinophils in peripheral blood. In contrast, CD54 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1)) was expressed by eosinophils in BALF, but not by those in peripheral blood. These results indicate that intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression by eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid but not in peripheral blood may be induced by locally activated T-cells or macrophages and may be important in the pathogenesis of idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonia.