Circadian changes in granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor message in circulating eosinophils

Stéphane Esnault, Yulin Fang, Elizabeth A B Kelly, Julie B. Sedgwick, Jason Fine, James S. Malter, Nizar N. Jarjour

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which stimulates eosinophil recruitment, activation, and survival, is expressed by activated eosinophils. Although eosinophil recruitment and enhanced survival have been associated with nocturnal asthma (NA), the contribution of GM-CSF to NA is unknown. Objective: To determine whether circulating eosinophil GM-CSF expression correlates with the symptoms of NA. Methods: The GM-CSF messenger RNA (mRNA) expression at 4 PM and 4 AM was determined by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction with Southern blot analysis in subjects with and without NA and in controls. Results: A total of 142 asthma subjects were screened for nocturnal asthma with 1-week home peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) monitoring. Eleven subjects had NA (>20% diurnal variation in PEFR on 4 of 7 days), and 6 met the criteria for non-NA (< 10% diurnal variation in PEFR on 7 of 7 days); 8 controls were studied. In subjects with NA, GM-CSF mRNA expression in circulating eosinophils increased 3-fold at 4 AM compared with 4 PM. Diurnal changes in GM-CSF mRNA expression were not detected in the non-NA and control groups. Conclusions: Day-night variation in eosinophil GM-CSF expression is associated with circadian variation in airway function in asthma, a key manifestation of asthma severity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)75-82
Number of pages8
JournalAnnals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
Volume98
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2007

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology
  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

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