We assessed whether incubation with human serum from atopic individuals containing high concentrations of immunoglobulin E (IgE) causes augmentation of maximal contraction of human bronchial smooth muscle from non-atopic subjects in vitro. Bronchi were obtained from eight patients undergoing lung resection, and force-velocity relationships were determined for eight pairs of epithelium-intact bronchial rings of generations 6-7 using an electromagnetic lever system, which allowed isotonic shortening when load-clamps [from 0 to maximal isometric force (P0)] were applied at specific times after onset of contraction. Contractions were elicited by supramaximal electrical field stimulation (50 Hz, 10 s train duration, 25 V). Optimal length (Lo) for each tissue was determined during equilibration. After resection, tissues were sensitized passively with human sera containing high titers (> 1,000 U/ml) of IgE by incubation for 16 h at 20 degrees C. Maximal shortening velocity (Vmax) was increased for passively sensitized bronchi [0.1150 +/- 0.0240 1/2 circumferences/s (1/2Cir/s)] compared with sham-sensitized bronchi [0.0731 +/- 0.0152 1/2Cir/s, P = 0.038]. Similarly, maximal shortening (delta Lmax) was augmented in sensitized bronchial rings (11.27 +/- 1.80 %Lo) compared with sham-sensitized tissues (8.19 +/- 1.39 %Lo, P = 0.012). However, P0 did not differ between sensitized (122.5 +/- 24.4 mN/cm2) compared with sham-sensitized tissues (138.4 +/- 32.1 mN/cm2, P = 0.642). Our data are the first demonstration that Vmax and delta Lmax are augmented in sensitized but not challenged human bronchial rings after passive sensitization using human serum containing high concentrations of IgE.

Incubation of airways from nonatopic patients with serum from patients with high IgE levels confers responsiveness to "specific" (allergen) and hyperresponsiveness to "nonspecific" (histamine) stimuli. We have tested the hypothesis that the level of IgE determines the degree of specific and nonspecific responsiveness. Bronchial rings from nonatopic patients were sensitized overnight with serum containing high levels of allergen-specific IgE, or with an allergen-specific chimeric IgE (JW8) in physiologic buffer. In vitro responsiveness to allergen and histamine was evaluated and compared with non-sensitized tissues from the same patients. Responses to specific allergen were demonstrated in all tissues sensitized with atopic serum or chimeric IgE, but not in nonsensitized tissues. Allergen responses were specific, since tissues sensitized using serum containing high Dermatohagoides farinae-specific IgE only, did not respond to either horse or dog allergens. The potency and magnitude of the maximal contraction to histamine was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in tissues sensitized using atopic serum with high total IgE concentrations compared with nonsensitized preparations, but was unchanged in tissues sensitized using chimeric IgE or serum with low total IgE levels. Therefore, specific IgE determines allergen responsiveness in passively sensitized human airways, but histamine hyperresponsiveness is independent of specific IgE and appears to be related to some other factor associated with serum containing high concentrations of total IgE.

1 Non-selective inhibitors of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) block allergen-induced contraction of passively sensitized human airways in vitro by a dual mechanism involving a direct relaxant eect on smooth muscle and inhibition of histamine and cysteinyl leukotriene (LT) release from airways. We investigated the eects of non-selective PDE inhibitors and selective inhibitors of PDE3 and PDE4 in order to determine the involvement of PDE isoenzymes in the suppression of allergic bronchoconstriction. 2 Macroscopically normal airways from 76 patients were sensitized with IgE-rich sera (4250 u ml 71) containing speci®c antibodies against allergen (Dermatophagoides farinae). Contractile responses of bronchial rings were assessed using standard organ bath techniques. 3 Passive sensitization caused increased contractile responses to allergen, histamine and LTC 4 . Non-selective PDE inhibitors (theophylline, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine [IBMX]), a PDE3-selective inhibitor (motapizone), PDE4-selective inhibitors (RP73401, rolipram, AWD 12-281) and a mixed PDE3/4 inhibitor (zardaverine) all signi®cantly relaxed inherent bronchial tone at resting tension and to a similar degree. Theophylline, IBMX, zardaverine and the combination of motapizone and RP73401 inhibited the contractile responses to allergen and LTC 4 . Pre-treatment with motapizone, RP73401, rolipram or the methylxanthine adenosine receptor antagonist, 8-phenyltheophylline, did not signi®cantly decrease responses to either allergen or LTC 4 . 4 We conclude that combined inhibition of PDE3 and PDE4, but not selective inhibition of either isoenzyme or antagonism of adenosine receptors, is eective in suppressing allergen-induced contractions of passively sensitized human airways. The relationship between allergen-and LTC 4 -induced responses suggests that PDE inhibitors with PDE3 and PDE4 selectivity are likely to act in part through inhibition of mediator release and not simply through direct relaxant actions on airway smooth muscle.

Previous investigations have suggested that protein kinase C (PKC) may regulate guinea pig eosinophil responses through a suppressive "negative feedback" mechanism. Using the selective PKC inhibitors bisindolylmaleimide I (Bis I, GF 109203X) and calphostin C, we examined the role of PKC in platelet-activating factor (PAF)-induced respiratory burst and generation of arachidonic acid metabolites in human peripheral blood eosinophils. Bis I inhibited PAF-induced generation of superoxide anion with substantially lower potency (geometric mean IC50 = 1.41 microM, 95% CI 0.94-2.11 microM) than it exhibited against responses to the phorbol esters 4-beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA; IC50 = 0.25 microM, 0.09-0.72 microM; P < 0.01) and 4-beta-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (IC50 = 0.48 microM, 0.20-1.14 microM; P < 0.05). The production of thromboxane (measured as TxB2) induced by 1 microM PAF was increased significantly by Bis I at concentrations of 1 microM (162 +/- 7.5% of control PAF response; P < 0.01) and 10 microM (194 +/- 17%; P < 0.001); TxB2 release induced by PMA was unaffected by concentrations of Bis I up to 1 microM and inhibited by 10 microM Bis I (48 +/- 11%; P < 0.05). Bis I (1 microM) significantly increased both thromboxane and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) production induced by 2 microM (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively) or 20 microM PAF (both P < 0.001). The actions of Bis I on PAF-stimulated thromboxane and leukotriene production were mimicked by a second PKC inhibitor, calphostin C, whereas the non-PKC-inhibitory analog, bisindolylmaleimide V, caused no enhancement of TxB2 or LTC4 production. The increase in intracellular free calcium induced by 1 microM PAF was heightened and prolonged in cells pre-treated with 1 microM Bis I or 1 microM calphostin C (peak increase, P < 0.05 for both drugs; level 60 s after addition of PAF, P < 0.001 and P < 0.05 for Bis I and calphostin C, respectively; time to return to 50% of peak, P < 0.05 for Bis I). We conclude that PKC inhibition causes augmentation of thromboxane and LTC4 production in PAF-stimulated human eosinophils despite suppressing respiratory burst activity, indicating that different signaling pathways predominate in these two responses and that PKC mediates a suppression of an early stage in an alternative pathway of activation.

SUMMARYActivation of human eosinophils by platelet-activating factor (PAF) involves multiple signal transduction pathways. Among these, protein kinase C has been demonstrated both to mediate respiratory burst and to suppress an alternative pathway of activation of respiratory burst and arachidonic acid metabolism in eosinophils. We utilized inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinases (PTK) to elucidate the role of PTK in PAF-induced activation of eosinophils. Eosinophils were isolated from peripheral blood of atopic donors and stimulated with PAF in the absence or presence of broad-spectrum PTK inhibitors ± genistein or lavendustin A; an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation ± tyrphostin AG126; or an inhibitor of Janus kinase 2 (Jak2) ± tyrphostin B42 (AG490). PAF induced superoxide anion (O 2 Å. ) generation, leukotriene C 4 (LTC 4 ) release, intracellular calcium ion mobilization and tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple eosinophil proteins in a concentration-dependent manner. All of these responses were concentrationdependently inhibited by genistein; lavendustin A also exhibited potent inhibition of PAF-induced LTC 4 release. AG126 had no effect on either O 2 Å. generation or LTC 4 release, while AG490 inhibited both responses, albeit less effectively than genistein. We conclude that PAF activates PTK in human eosinophils and that this signalling pathway is involved in eliciting respiratory burst and leukotriene production. The speci®c PTK(s) involved are unknown but may include Jak2.