Cytophilic and cytotoxic properties of human eosinophil peroxidase plus major basic protein.

The cytophilic and cytotoxic properties of an acetate-buffered solution of human eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) plus major basic protein (MBP) were studied to determine the cytotoxic potential of localized eosinophil degranulation in human tissues. When incubated with EPO + MBP for 5 minutes, viable cells of six unrelated types (Sp 2/0; HeLa; human gastric adenocarcinoma; acute lymphocytic leukemia; IM-9; benign lymphoid hyperplasia) developed varying degrees of cytochemically detectable deposits of EPO on the cell membranes. A single-step propidium iodide exclusion assay was then used to show that EPO + MBP in the absence of hydrogen peroxide is substantially cytotoxic only to the acute lymphocytic leukemia and IM-9 cells. In the presence of 0.003% hydrogen peroxide, EPO + MBP was cytotoxic to five types of cells. It is concluded that human EPO in the presence of MBP has an affinity for the membrane of diverse cell types. The toxicity of EPO + MBP is markedly enhanced by the presence of hydrogen peroxide.