{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.027793533749290982, 'fraction_numerical': 0.005104934770277935, 'mean_word_length': 5.606741573033708, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Upper airway epithelial cells support eosinophil survival in vitro through production of GM-CSF and prostaglandin E2: regulation by glucocorticoids and TNF-alpha.

Production of GM-CSF by epithelial cells has been implicated in eosinophil survival within the airways, although GM-CSF promotes neutrophil and monocyte survival as well. Using primary cultures of human airway epithelial cells, we undertook a comprehensive examination of factors that enhance eosinophil survival or apoptosis. Unstimulated epithelial cells were compared to epithelial cells stimulated with TNF-alpha in the presence or absence of dexamethasone. A striking increase in survival was observed when peripheral blood eosinophils were cultured with supernatants derived from unstimulated and TNF-alpha-stimulated epithelial cells. Cultured epithelial cells were examined for transcripts of cytokines shown to enhance eosinophil survival (GM-CSF, IL-3, IL-5, IL-13, and IFN-gamma), and transcripts for cytokines promoting apoptosis (IL-10 and TGF-beta). GM-CSF transcripts, but not the other cytokines, were present in unstimulated epithelial cells, and levels were increased with TNF-alpha stimulation. TNF-alpha stimulation increased the levels of GM-CSF and PGE2 in epithelial cell supernatants and dexamethasone suppressed the TNF-alpha induced increases. The survival effects of the TNF-alpha-stimulated supernatants were effectively blocked by neutralizing antibodies to GM-CSF or by dexamethasone treatment of epithelial cells. Selectivity of GM-CSF for eosinophil versus neutrophil survival was demonstrated and suggests that epithelial cell regulation of GM-CSF and PGE2 contribute to eosinophil survival in vitro and may contribute to eosinophil accumulation in allergic disease.