This interview is with Journal of Cell Death editorial board member Dr Bruce S. Bochner. Journal of Cell Death is an open access journal published by Libertas Academica.

Editor in Chief Dr Garry Walsh has recently issued a call for papers.

What is the primary focus of your work and main areas of expertise?

I am a physician-scientist (allergist-immunologist) interested in eosinophil, basophil and mast cell biology. I have been the director of the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center since 2003.

Specific ongoing research projects include the following:

The function and expression of Siglec-8 on human eosinophils, basophils and mast cells. Recent efforts are following up on the observation that crosslinking of Siglec-8 induces caspase-dependent apoptosis and inhibition of degranulation. Ongoing studies have identified a functional murine paralog of human Siglec-8, namely Siglec-F, and will allow additional studies of biological relevance. We are also determining the ability of Siglec-8/Siglec-F mAbs and ligand mimetics to limit allergic responses in eosinophils and mast cells in vitro and in vivo.

Collaborative studies have led to the discovery of 6'-sulfated sialyl Lewis X as a candidate ligand for Siglec-8 and Siglec-F. Ongoing studies are characterizing natural Siglec-8/Siglec-F ligands and determining their tissue expression. We are exploring mechanisms by which Siglec-F and Siglec-8 engagement induces eosinophil apoptosis and inhibits mast cell mediator release.

We are exploring the possibility that some human hypereosinophilic disorders, are due to genetic abnormalities in Siglec-8 function that occur, for example, as a result of altered or reduced tissue expression of 6'-sulfated sialyl Lewis X glycans, or mutations in the ligand binding or signaling domains of Siglec-8.

What are the most exciting and cutting-edge developments in your area?

Our most recent publication uses a polymer coated with 6'-sulfated sialyl Lewis X to selectively attach to human eosinophils and induce their apoptosis. We hope that one day the Siglec-8 molecule can be exploited in therapeutic approaches designed to target eosinophils and mast cells in asthma, allergy and related disorders.

Who are your main formal and informal collaborators and/or networks? Please describe your work with them

My collaborations are quite broad and include expertise in eosinophil biology and glycobiology. At Johns Hopkins, various other faculty in my division plus colleagues in Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, and Biomedical Engineering Other academic collaborators, faculty at the Division of Allergy and Immunology in the Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Medical Center; Division of Allergy and Immunology at the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine; the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics at the University of Illinois at Chicago; the Wellcome Trust Biocentre, Division of Cell Biology and Immunology School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee; the Shemyakin Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry at the Russian Academy of Sciences; the Department of Biochemistry at the Emory University School of Medicine; and the Consortium for Functional Glycomics (funded by NIGMS) Industry collaborators: GlaxoSmithKline, Human Genome Sciences and Sanofi-Aventis

How did you come to be working in your research area?: I have long been interested in cell adhesion, migration and survival as it relates to chronic allergic diseases, hence the interest in mast cells, basophils and eosinophils.

We used to work primarily in the area of integrins, selectins, chemokines and cytokines elated to these cells and their role in allergic inflammation.

The interest in Siglecs started as a result of a discovery project to identify novel adhesion-like molecules in the cells we study.

What do you think about the development of open access publishing? Have you published in an open access journal? What motivated you to do so?

Have not yet but expect to do so within the year. I think this is a great trend.

What articles and/or books have you published recently?

Conner, E., Bochner, B.S., Brummet, M., and Beck, L.A. The effect of etanercept on the human cutaneous allergic response. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 121:258-260, 2008

Nutku-Bilir, E., Hudson, S.A. and Bochner, B.S. Interleukin-5 priming of human eosinophils alters Siglec-8-mediated apoptosis pathways. Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. 38:121-124, 2008

Yokoi, H., Choi, O.H., Hubbard, W., Lee, H.-S., Canning, B.J., Lee, H.H., Ryu, S.-D., Bickel, C.A., Hudson, S.A., MacGlashan, Jr., D.W. and Bochner, B.S. Inhibition of FcεRI-dependent mediator release and calcium flux from human mast cells by Siglec-8 engagement. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 121:499-505, 2008

Zimmermann, N., McBride, M.L., Yamada, Y., Hudson, S.A., Jones, C., Cromie, K., Crocker, P.R., Rothenberg, M.E. and Bochner, B.S. Siglec-F antibody administration to mice selectively reduces blood and tissue eosinophils. Allergy 63:1156-1163, 2008

Matsumoto, K., Maeda, A., Bochner, B.S., Wakiguchi, H. and Saito, H. Induction of apoptosis in human basophils by anti-Fas antibody treatment in vitro. Int. Arch. Allergy Immunol. 146 Suppl 1:40-46, 2008

Nimrichter, L., Burdick, M.M., Aoki, K., Laroy, W., Fierro, M.A., Hudson, S.A., Von Seggern, C.E., Cotter, R.J., Bochner, B.S., Tiemeyer, M., Konstantopoulos, K., and Schnaar, R.L. E-selectin receptors on human leukocytes. Blood 112:3744-3752, 2008

Bochner, B.S. New treatments for allergies, asthma and related disorders. Ped. Allergy Respir Dis. 18 (suppl. 2):S140-S144, 2008

Simons, F.E., Frew, A.J., Ansotegui, I.J., Bochner, B.S., Golden, D.B., Finkelman, F.D., Leung, D.Y., Lotvall, J., Marone, G., Metcalfe, D.D., Müller, U., Rosenwasser, L.J., Sampson, H.A., Schwartz, L.B., van Hage, M., Walls, A.F. Practical allergy (PRACTALL) report: risk assessment in anaphylaxis. Allergy 63:35-37, 2008

von Gunten, S. and Bochner, B.S. The Year in Immunology 2008: Basic and clinical immunology of Siglecs. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1143: 61–82, 2008

Bochner, B.S. and Alam, R. Allergy and hypersensitivity. Curr. Opin. Immunol. 20:682-2, 2008

Liu, Z., Lu, X., Zhang, X.H., Bochner, B.S., Long, X.B., Zhang, F., Wang, H., and Cui, Y.H. Clara cell 10-kDa protein expression in chronic rhinosinusitis and its cytokine-driven regulation in sinonasal mucosa. Allergy 64:149-57, 2009

von Gunten, S., Smith, D.F., Cummings, R.D., Riedel, S., Miescher, S., Schaub, A., Hamilton, R.G. and Bochner, B.S. Intravenous immunoglobulin contains a broad repertoire of anti-carbohydrate antibodies that is not restricted to the IgG2 subclass. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 123:1268-76, 2009

von Gunten, S. and Bochner, B.S. Appendix A. CD molecules, in Middleton’s Allergy Principles and Practice. 7th Edition. N. F. Adkinson, Jr., W.W. Busse, B.S. Bochner, S.T. Holgate, R. Lemanske and F.E.R. Simons, editors, Mosby Elsevier, Philadelphia, 2009, pp. 1711-1737

Bochner, B.S. Siglec-8 on human eosinophils and mast cells, and Siglec-F on murine eosinophils, are functionally related inhibitory receptors. Clin. Exp. Allergy 39:317-324, 2009

Boyce, J.A., Broide, D., Matsumoto, K. and Bochner, B.S. Advances in mechanisms of asthma, allergy and immunology in 2008. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 123:569-74, 2009

von Gunten, S. and Bochner, B.S. Expression and function of Siglec-8 in human eosinophils, basophils and mast cells. In Allergy Frontiers: Classification and Pathomechanisms. Volume 2. R. Pawankar, S. Holgate, L.J. Rosenwasser, editors, Volume 1, Springer, Tokyo, 2009 pp. 297-313

Hudson, S.A., Bovin, N., Schnaar, R.A., Crocker, P.R. and Bochner, B.S. Eosinophil-selective binding and pro-apoptotic effect of a synthetic Siglec-8 ligand, polymeric 6’-sulfated sialyl

Conner, E., Bochner, B.S., Brummet, M., and Beck, L.A. The effect of etanercept on the human cutaneous allergic response. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 121:258-260, 2008

Nutku-Bilir, E., Hudson, S.A. and Bochner, B.S. Interleukin-5 priming of human eosinophils alters Siglec-8-mediated apoptosis pathways. Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. 38:121-124, 2008

Yokoi, H., Choi, O.H., Hubbard, W., Lee, H.-S., Canning, B.J., Lee, H.H., Ryu, S.-D., Bickel, C.A., Hudson, S.A., MacGlashan, Jr., D.W. and Bochner, B.S. Inhibition of FcεRI-dependent mediator release and calcium flux from human mast cells by Siglec-8 engagement. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 121:499-505, 2008

Zimmermann, N., McBride, M.L., Yamada, Y., Hudson, S.A., Jones, C., Cromie, K., Crocker, P.R., Rothenberg, M.E. and Bochner, B.S. Siglec-F antibody administration to mice selectively reduces blood and tissue eosinophils. Allergy 63:1156-1163, 2008

Matsumoto, K., Maeda, A., Bochner, B.S., Wakiguchi, H. and Saito, H. Induction of apoptosis in human basophils by anti-Fas antibody treatment in vitro. Int. Arch. Allergy Immunol. 146 Suppl 1:40-46, 2008

Nimrichter, L., Burdick, M.M., Aoki, K., Laroy, W., Fierro, M.A., Hudson, S.A., Von Seggern, C.E., Cotter, R.J., Bochner, B.S., Tiemeyer, M., Konstantopoulos, K., and Schnaar, R.L. E-selectin receptors on human leukocytes. Blood 112:3744-3752, 2008

Bochner, B.S. New treatments for allergies, asthma and related disorders. Ped. Allergy Respir Dis. 18 (suppl. 2):S140-S144, 2008

Simons, F.E., Frew, A.J., Ansotegui, I.J., Bochner, B.S., Golden, D.B., Finkelman, F.D., Leung, D.Y., Lotvall, J., Marone, G., Metcalfe, D.D., Müller, U., Rosenwasser, L.J., Sampson, H.A., Schwartz, L.B., van Hage, M., Walls, A.F. Practical allergy (PRACTALL) report: risk assessment in anaphylaxis. Allergy 63:35-37, 2008

von Gunten, S. and Bochner, B.S. The Year in Immunology 2008: Basic and clinical immunology of Siglecs. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1143: 61–82, 2008

Bochner, B.S. and Alam, R. Allergy and hypersensitivity. Curr. Opin. Immunol. 20:682-2, 2008

Liu, Z., Lu, X., Zhang, X.H., Bochner, B.S., Long, X.B., Zhang, F., Wang, H., and Cui, Y.H. Clara cell 10-kDa protein expression in chronic rhinosinusitis and its cytokine-driven regulation in sinonasal mucosa. Allergy 64:149-57, 2009

von Gunten, S., Smith, D.F., Cummings, R.D., Riedel, S., Miescher, S., Schaub, A., Hamilton, R.G. and Bochner, B.S. Intravenous immunoglobulin contains a broad repertoire of anti-carbohydrate antibodies that is not restricted to the IgG2 subclass. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 123:1268-76, 2009

von Gunten, S. and Bochner, B.S. Appendix A. CD molecules, in Middleton’s Allergy Principles and Practice. 7th Edition. N. F. Adkinson, Jr., W.W. Busse, B.S. Bochner, S.T. Holgate, R. Lemanske and F.E.R. Simons, editors, Mosby Elsevier, Philadelphia, 2009, pp. 1711-1737

Bochner, B.S. Siglec-8 on human eosinophils and mast cells, and Siglec-F on murine eosinophils, are functionally related inhibitory receptors. Clin. Exp. Allergy 39:317-324, 2009

Boyce, J.A., Broide, D., Matsumoto, K. and Bochner, B.S. Advances in mechanisms of asthma, allergy and immunology in 2008. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 123:569-74, 2009

von Gunten, S. and Bochner, B.S. Expression and function of Siglec-8 in human eosinophils, basophils and mast cells. In Allergy Frontiers: Classification and Pathomechanisms. Volume 2. R. Pawankar, S. Holgate, L.J. Rosenwasser, editors, Volume 1, Springer, Tokyo, 2009 pp. 297-313

Hudson, S.A., Bovin, N., Schnaar, R.A., Crocker, P.R. and Bochner, B.S. Eosinophil-selective binding and pro-apoptotic effect of a synthetic Siglec-8 ligand, polymeric 6’-sulfated sialyl Lewis X. J. Pharm. Exp. Therap. Epub: DOI:10.1124/jpet.109.152439

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