Asia Pac Allergy.  2017 Oct;7(4):221-226. 10.5415/apallergy.2017.7.4.221.

Basophils are increased and express increased levels of interleukin-4 in the parotid lesions of Kimura disease

• Nonaka M
• Sakitani E
• Ono E
• Yamamura Y
• Seo Y
• Shibata N
• Pawankar R
• Yoshihara

• KMID: 2410216
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5415/apallergy.2017.7.4.221

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Kimura disease (KD) is a systemic soft-tissue disease that leads to formation of painless masses in lymph nodes, with the highest predilection for the head and neck and especially the parotid gland. KD lesions are characterized by marked eosinophil infiltration, production of IgE and increased expression of T-helper type 2 (Th2) cytokines (interleukin [IL]-4, IL-5, etc.). Skewing to a Th2 inflammation is also demonstrated in the peripheral blood, with elevated eosinophils and high IgE levels. It is thought that basophils may play important roles in orchestrating this Th2 inflammation via IL-4 production leading to the induction of IgE synthesis as well as eosinophil infiltration. However, there are no reports as yet on the role of basophils in KD.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was performed to investigate the potential role of basophils in the pathogenesis of KD. In this context we also examined the expression of IL-4 in basophils in the KD lesions.
METHODS
By immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal antibody against a basophil marker ProMBP1 we investigated the number and distribution of basophils in the KD lesions. By double immunohistochemistry we analyzed the colocalization of IL-4 in basophils.
RESULTS
There was an increased number of basophils infiltrating the KD parotid gland lesions as compared to that in normal control parotid tissue. By double-immunofluorescence we found that approximately 7% of IL-4-positive cells in KD patients' parotid glands were basophils.
CONCLUSION
Basophils may also play a role in the pathogenesis of KD, leading to the induction of IgE synthesis and eosinophil infiltration.

Keyword

Kimura disease; Parotid gland; Basophils; Interleukin-4; Immunohistochemistry

MeSH Terms

Angiolymphoid Hyperplasia with Eosinophilia*
Basophils*
Cytokines
Eosinophils
Head
Immunoglobulin E
Immunohistochemistry
Inflammation
Interleukin-4*
Interleukin-5
Lymph Nodes
Neck
Parotid Gland
Cytokines
Immunoglobulin E
Interleukin-4
Interleukin-5

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Numbers of proMBP1-positive cells in KD and normal parotid glands. Box plots represent the median values with 25% and 75% interquartiles. The error bars represent the 10th and 90th percentiles. Each group, n = 6. *p < 0.01. proMBP1, pro-form of major basic protein 1.

• 

  Fig. 2 Immunolocalization of proMBP1 in the parotid lesion of Kimura disease. (A) Low magnification and (B) high magnification. (C) Same tissue stained with control antibody. LF, lymphoid follicle; proMBP1, pro-form of major basic protein 1.

• 

  Fig. 3 Immunohistochemical identification of interleukin (IL)-4-positive, proMBP1-positive cells in the Kimura disease parotid gland by the double-immunofluorescence method. Images staining positive for IL-4 (red) (A), proMBP1 (green) (B), and their merger (C). The yellow signal (arrow) in panel C indicates colocalization of IL-4 and proMBP1. proMBP1, pro-form of major basic protein 1.

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