Human eosinophils stimulate DNA synthesis and matrix production in dermal fibroblasts.

Fibrosis is frequently found in diseases exhibiting tissue eosinophilia, such as some parasitic worm infections, eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome, and eosinophilic fasciitis. Previously, eosinophil extracts have been shown to induce proliferation in neonatal foreskin fibroblasts in vitro. To determine if living eosinophils can induce synthesis of DNA and components of the extracellular matrix in dermal fibroblasts, we cultured purified human eosinophils for 2 or 7 days in the presence of the eosinophil-active cytokines granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor, interleukin-3, or interleukin-5, and added eosinophil-conditioned medium to cultures of dermal fibroblasts. Using flow cytometry, we found that eosinophil-conditioned medium increased by two-fold the percentage of fibroblasts in S-phase. This stimulation of fibroblast DNA synthesis was corroborated using a standard tritiated thymidine assay and the two methods were shown to correlate well with each other. Eosinophil-conditioned medium stimulation of DNA synthesis was dose dependent and conditioned medium from eosinophils treated with any one of the three cytokines induced increased DNA synthesis. Treatment of fibroblasts with cytokines alone did not induce enhanced DNA synthesis. Eosinophil-conditioned medium also affected fibroblast matrix production. Eosinophil-conditioned medium induced a two-fold increase in soluble and cell-associated fibroblast glycosaminoglycan production and a 76% increase in collagen production. These observations support the concept that eosinophils may be active contributors to the pathophysiology of eosinophil-associated fibrotic disease.