The production of the eosinophil proteins ECP and EPX/EDN are regulated in a reciprocal manner

APMIS. 2014 Apr;122(4):283-91. doi: 10.1111/apm.12142.

Abstract

Previous studies showed that the biological activity and the eosinophil content of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP, RNase 3) are determined by single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ECP (RNase3) gene. In this study, we report the prevalence of a common SNP in the eosinophil protein x/eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EPX/EDN, RNase2) and the association with the cellular contents of EPX/EDN and ECP. The genes were sequenced and the EPX/EDN405(G>C) rs2013109 SNPs were also determined by TaqMan 5′nuclease allelic discrimination assay. ECP and EPX/EDN in purified eosinophils or in whole blood extracts were analysed by sensitive immunoassays. The study included 379 non-allergic and allergic subjects. The genotype prevalence of the EPX/EDN405(G>C) polymorphism was GG 59%, GC 36% and CC 6%. The cellular contents of ECP and EPX/EDN were related in a reciprocal fashion with the sums of the protein contents being constant. The contents were associated with the ECP562(G>C) rs2233860 and EPX/EDN405(G>C) gene polymorphisms. The cellular content of eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) was not associated with the ECP and EPX/EDN genotypes. The prevalence of the EPX/EDN405(G>C) genotypes and the contents of the proteins were similar in non-allergic and allergic subjects.The production and storage of the two ancestral proteins, ECP and EPX/EDN likely share common regulatory mechanisms, which result in opposing productions of the two proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Child
  • Eosinophil Cationic Protein / biosynthesis*
  • Eosinophil Cationic Protein / genetics*
  • Eosinophil Cationic Protein / immunology
  • Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin / biosynthesis*
  • Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin / genetics*
  • Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin / immunology
  • Eosinophils / enzymology
  • Eosinophils / immunology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Gene Frequency
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / enzymology
  • Hypersensitivity / genetics
  • Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin
  • Eosinophil Cationic Protein
  • RNASE3 protein, human
  • RNASE2 protein, human