Kinetic study of eosinophil chemotactic factor production with reference to eosinophilia and granuloma formation in mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum.

Kinetic changes of eosinophil chemotactic factor (ECF) production from granulomas, splenic T-cells or mast cells were examined with reference to granuloma formation around newly deposited single eggs in Schistosoma japonicum-infected mice. The peri-ovular granulomas began to appear at around 5 weeks post-infection (p.i.). Their size reached a peak at 6 weeks and then decreased gradually. Up to 8 weeks p.i., eosinophils were the predominant cell type in the granulomas. ECF-release from isolated granulomas paralleled the size of granulomas. Circulating ECF-A, which was assumed to be derived from mast cells, was also detected 6 weeks afterwards in parallel with the level of specific IgE antibody level against egg antigens in the serum. The circulating ECF-A peaked at 8 weeks and decreased after 10 weeks. Spleen cells began to produce ECF specific to bone-marrow eosinophils began at 5 weeks p.i., reached a peak at 6 weeks and then decreased rapidly. On the other hand, the production of ECF specific to eosinophils obtained from the peritoneal cavity began at 6 weeks and decreased rapidly thereafter. These results suggest that various kinds of host-derived ECFs seem to contribute, in one way or an other, to the accumulation of eosinophils in and around granulomatous lesions. The possible role of these ECFs in eosinophil mobilization from the site of production to the inflamed site is discussed.