Involvement of CD23/Fc epsilon RII in the homotypic and heterotypic cytoadhesion of the human eosinophilic cell line Eol-3.

A subclone of the EoL-3 human eosinophilic leukemia cell line (EoL-3.12) was selected for its high inducibility of CD23 (low affinity IgE receptor/Fc epsilon RII) by IL-4. Maximum membrane CD23 expression was detected after 16 h of incubation with IL-4, then gradually returned to basal level after 48 h. Membrane expression of CD23 on EoL-3.12 cells was found to parallel their homotypic aggregation. Extending the time of incubation with IL-4 to 48 h or more resulted in a de-aggregation of cells of cells with a shedding of membrane CD23 and an increase of its soluble form, sCD23. The IL-4-induced aggregation of EoL-3.12 cells was inhibited with anti-CD23 antibody or human myeloma IgE protein, indicating that it was mediated through the engagement of CD23. EoL3.12 incubated with IL-4 displayed morphological changes associated with differentiation, such as an increased number of lobulated nuclei with prominent nucleoli, increased ratio of cytoplasm and distinct cytoplasmic processes. EoL-3.12 cells incubated with IL-4 also displayed an enhanced adherence to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), which was reverted when the IL-4 incubation time extended. Furthermore, the transendothelial migration of EoL-3.12 cells toward a chemokinetic gradient of soluble CD23 (sCD23; 29 kDa fragment) closely paralleled the density of membrane CD23 expressed on EoL-3.12 cells. Additionally, the engagement of CD23 led to the activation of the L-arginine-dependent pathway of nitric oxide (NO) production, as detected by the increase in intracytoplasmic cGMP concentration. The capacity of EoL-3.12 cells to form homotypic as well as heterotypic adhesion appears therefore to be regulated, at least in part, by the level of CD23 expression.