Heterogeneity of human peripheral blood eosinophil-type colonies: Evidence for a common basophil-eosinophil progenitor

Abstract

We have recently shown that a proportion of previously designated human eosinophil '(Eo)-type' colonies in methylcellulose contain basophils and histamine. In the present studies, individual Eo-type colonies have been analyzed by cell morphology as well as by biochemical assays for histamine, Charcot-Leyden crystal protein (CLC), and eosinophil granule major basic protein (MBP). Clonal origin of single Eo-type colonies was confirmed by G6PD isoenzyme analysis. Morphological observations of such colonies revealed the existence of two distinct colony types: (1) Eo type containing 100% basophils and (2) Eo type containing mixtures of basophils and eosinophils, including cells with mixed basophil-eosinophil granulation. Histamine was not detected in pure, mature peripheral blood eosinophils. Immunofluorescent studies demonstrated bright staining for CLC and MBP in 95% ± 3% of cells in Eo-type colonies but only in 5% ± 4% of cells in Gm-type colonies. Radioimmunoassay for MBP was positive in 5/9 Eo-type and 0/10 neutrophil-macrophage ('GM-type') colonies, with a mean level (nanogram/colony) of 11.6 ± 4.2 per Eo-type colony; four of the latter colonies were doubly positive for both histamine and MBP. These and previous findings point out the morphological and biochemical heterogeneity of peripheral blood Eo-type colonies and provide direct evidence for the existence of a common, circulating basophil-eosinophil progenitor.