EOSINOPHILS VIABILITY INCREASES AFTER THEIR INTERACTION WITH AIRWAY SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS IN ASTHMA

Abstract

Background. Viability of peripheral blood eosinophils are significantly lower than airway eosinophils. It may be assumed that direct contact between eosinophils and pulmonary structural cells increase eosinophils survival and activity thus enhancing the development of airway remodeling in asthma. Aim. To investigate the viability of eosinophils after their interaction with airway smooth muscle cells in asthma. Methods. Blood eosinophils were isolated from 5 asthma patients and 4 not atopic healthy individuals combining high density centrifugation and magnetic separation methods. Individual combined cell cultures with immortalized human healthy ASM cells were prepared. The number and viability of eosinophils were analyzed via automatic cell counter ADAM. Results. Viability of asthmatic eosinophils is increased by 9±1.7% (p<0.05) comparing with healthy eosinophils. Eosinophil interaction with airway smooth muscle cells significantly increased viability of eosinophils in both, asthma and healthy groups, respectively by 33.0±7.6% and 29.8±10.7% (p<0.05). Conclusion. Eosinophil viability is increased after their contact with airway smooth muscle cells, more pronounced in asthma patients.