In vitro killing of microfilariae of Brugia pahangi and Brugia malayi by eosinophil granule proteins.

Eosinophil infiltration and degranulation around the tissue-invasive stages of several species of helminths have been observed. Release of eosinophil granule contents upon the worms is supported by localization of two of the major granule proteins, major basic protein (MBP) and eosinophil peroxidase (EPO), on and around species of trematodes, nematodes, and cestodes. In the case of filarial worms, MBP is deposited on degenerating microfilariae (mf) of Onchocerca volvulus. Here, we performed in vitro assays of the toxicity of four purified eosinophil granule proteins, namely, MBP, EPO, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN), for the mf of Brugia pahangi and Brugia malayi. MBP, ECP, and EDN killed these worms in a dose-related manner although relatively high concentrations of EDN were necessary. EPO, in the presence of a H2O2-generating system and a halide, was the most potent toxin on a molar basis; here, the most potent halide was I- followed by Br- and Cl-. Surprisingly, EPO in the absence of H2O2 killed mf at concentrations comparable to those required for MBP and ECP. The toxicity of EPO + H2O2 + halide was inhibited by heparin, catalase, or 1% BSA, whereas the toxicity of EPO alone was inhibited only by heparin. Heparin also inhibited killing by both MBP and ECP. Despite the homology of ECP with certain RNases, placental RNasin, an RNase inhibitor, was unable to inhibit ECP-mediated toxicity. These results indicate that all of the eosinophil granule proteins are toxic to mf and they support the hypothesis that eosinophil degranulation causes death of mf in vivo.