Eosinophils are bone marrow-derived granulocytes [1] that contribute to the pathogenesis of allergic, inflammatory, and immuno-regulatory responses through the release of toxic proteins, preformed cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and lipid mediators. They are activated in response to infection and tissue damage; and in multiple disease states, inflammatory mediators stimulate their migration from the bone marrow, and their localization to the affected sites [2]. Eosinophil infiltration and localization is characterized by the presence and persistence of the enigmatic autocrystallizing Charcot-Leyden crystal protein, a member of the galectin family of carbohydrate-binding proteins that have emerged as bioactive molecules with powerful immuno-regulatory functions. The galectin family includes 15 members that are characterized by galactose-binding domains and are widely expressed in diverse cell types [3]. Different members of the glycoprotein family have been shown to positively or negatively modulate multiple steps of the inflammatory response, including cell trafficking, cell survival, pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, cell growth and regulation [4], cell adhesion and aggregation, and tumor cell apoptosis [5]. In addition, several galectins are currently being investigated as potential therapeutic targets for immunologically-based pathologies, such as hematological malignancies [6], asthma, infections [7], autoimmune disorders and cancer [8]. Despite the explosion of information on these intriguing proteins in pathological states, particularly inflammation, fibrosis, and cancer [3], the precise role of galectin-10 in the eosinophil biology still remains to be ascertained. Its selective localization in several host immune cells—eosinophils, basophils, and regulatory T lymphocytes—as well as its structural and functional similarities to other galectins is, however, indicative of a potentially crucial role in inflammation. This review presents a brief description of Charcot—Leyden crystal protein-examining what is currently known about its association with two major immuno-regulatory cells, eosinophils and regulatory T lymphocytes, and its potential intracellular and extracellular function in eosinophil pre-mRNA splicing and the modulation of eosinophil-T lymphocyte interactions, respectively.

Eosinophilic charcot-leyden crystal protein

Charcot-Leyden crystal protein is a major constituent of eosinophils (and basophils) [9] and a hallmark of eosinophil-associated inflammatory reactions [10-12]. The crystals are distinct, colorless, hexagonal and bi-pyramidal; 20µm to 40µm in length, and 2 µm to 4um across [13,14]. They are unique to primate eosinophils [15] and are frequently observed in human tissues and secretions in association with eosinophilic inflammatory responses, such as asthma, myeloid leukemias, allergic and parasitic diseases [11,16], and various types of cancers [17-19] (Figure 1). The protein is among the most abundant of eosinophil constituents [11,20], comprising an estimated 7% to10% of total eosinophil cellular protein [21]—an amount comparable with the eosinophil’s content of toxic cationic proteins and enzymes, such as MBP and EPO [10]. The 16.5 kDa hydrophobic protein [20], localized primarily to a small cytoplasmic granule fraction [9] and to the nucleus of eosinophils [10], lacks a secretion signal peptide and transmembrane domain, and is secreted under certain conditions by nonclassical and novel apocrine mechanisms [4]. Eosinophil development and Ca²⁺ ionophores stimulate its secretion [22]; and the CLC gene, localized on chromosome 19 [13], is transcriptionally induced by butyric acid [23].

Figure 1: Photomicrograph of Charcot-Leyden Crystals in Prostatic Adenocarcinoma. A transrectal needle biopsy of the prostate shows an adenocarcinoma and numerous degranulated eosinophils in the peritumor fibrous stroma. An intraepithelial group of eosinophils is seen (thick arrow) and intraluminal Charcot-Leyden crystals (thin arrow). Photomicrograph reproduced from Diagnostic Pathology 2006, 1:26 [9].

The protein was first identified in 1853 by Charcot and Robin, who described needle-shaped, crystalline deposits of the protein in the spleen and heart blood of a leukemic patient [13,24], and later in 1872 by Leyden in his studies of the deposits in the sputum of asthmatics [25]; hence, their designation as Charcot-Leyden crystals. Although initially identified as the eosinophil’s premier lysophospholipase [9], studies have shown significant amino acid sequence homology with galectins [26], a multi-protein superfamily of galactoside-binding proteins, with characterized roles in inflammation, tumor surveillance [27], autoimmunity, infections, and allergic reactions [4]. Unlike its β-galactoside-binding counterparts, crystallographic studies have shown selective recognition of mannose by the eosinophil Charcot-Leyden crystal protein [28]. Among all the galectins, CLC is most structurally similar to galectins-1 and -2 and its lectin/carbohydrate-recognition domain is most sequentially similar to galectin-3 [10]. Studies have shown that CLC interacts with eosinophil toxic cationic proteins, ECP and EDN, and may be involved in their secretion [29]. Despite the established association between CLC and eosinophil-associated inflammation, its biochemical and functional properties remain indeterminate [20].

Charcot-leyden crystals in regulatory T cells

In addition to localization in eosinophils (and basophils), recent studies have reported intra-cytoplasmic CLC expression in human CD4⁺ CD25⁺ Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells (Treg) [30]. Its expression is not only necessary for limiting Treg-proliferation and maintaining Treg anergy, but is also crucial for maintaining Treg-mediated immuno-suppression of co-cultured CD4⁺ T lymphocytes [30]. The protein is constitutively expressed in the Tregs and is not secreted nor released under the described experimental conditions [30]. Regulatory T cells play a crucial role in the maintenance of immunological self-tolerance [30,31], the prevention of a variety of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, and inhibit antitumor immune reactions by suppressing tumor-specific T cell responses [31]. Although little is known about the molecular mechanisms and proteins that contribute to the in vitro anergy and regulatory activity of Tregs [30], these findings offer implications for Charcot-Leyden crystal protein in their functional properties.

The identification of Charcot-Leyden crystals at sites of eosinophil infiltration in tissues and secretions has been, for many years, a marker of eosinophil involvement in inflammatory reactions. Eosinophils are immuno-modulatory cells that function as proinflammatory and cytotoxic-effector cells in inflammation. What exactly do these findings reveal about the biochemical properties and functional role(s) of the distinctive crystals in eosinophil biology? CLC is among the eosinophil’s most abundant proteins; and, the fact that these immune cells contain such large quantities, offers implications for a significant role in eosinophil biology and function. CLC, like all galectins, lacks a secretory signal peptide [4]. While the absence of a signal peptide, as well as its nuclear and cytosolic localizations, are suggestive of a strictly intracellular function, its atypical secretion or exportation, however, strongly suggests a potential extracellular role(s) in eosinophil function [10]. Galectin-3 has been identified as a nuclear factor in the regulation of pre-mRNA splicing [32]. CLC’s similarity to galectin-3, therefore, gives credence to the intriguing possibility of CLC’s intracellular function(s) in pre-mRNA splicing [10]. Galectin-3’s IgE [33] and carbohydrate (laminin)-binding [34] abilities also provoke the idea of an extracellular role(s) for CLC in eosinophil function. Equally intriguing is the modulatory role of the protein in regulatory T lymphocytes. Eosinophils, like Tregs, possess immuno-regulatory properties [35] and regulate a variety of immune cells. They express surface antigens, as well as produce and release most cytokines that regulate and promote T-cell activation, proliferation, and cytokine secretion [2]. Given CLC’s necessity for Treg suppression of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes, one can certainly envision a role for eosinophilic CLC in regulating the proliferation and function of CD4⁺T cells.

Charcot-Leyden crystals represent active legacies of eosinophil infiltration in peripheral tissues. The protein is more than a curious crystalline artefact—persisting in tissues long after eosinophil death. Given the findings presented here, and the multifunctional nature of galectins, the role of galectin-10/CLC in eosinophil biology and function seems worthy of further exploration.