Eosinophils in bronchial asthma.
A lot of recent works point out the role of the eosinophil as one of the most harmful cells in asthma. Eosinophilic granules contain strongly basiec cytotoxic proteins. Some of these proteins were shown to damage airway epithelial cells and degranulate basophils and mast cells. The concentration of eosinophil-derived major basic protein (MBP) in sputum is a good marker for clinical state in asthma. Extracellular MBP deposits were detected in lung tissue from patients who died of asthma. Several pieces of evidence indicate that eosinophil is stimulated to secrete its content in asthmatic reaction. Besides basic proteins the eosinophil can release other potent mediators of inflammation i.e. leukotriene C4 and PAF. Glucocorticosteroids, adrenergic agonists, disodium cromoglycate and specific immunotherapy were shown to inhibit eosinophil function.
Górski
P
P
Department of Pneumonology and Allergology, Medical Academy of Lódź, Poland.
Palczyński
C
C
D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000378:metabolism; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000378:metabolism; D017455:Receptors, IgE
D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011506:Proteins; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium