[Diagnostic performance of eosinophil protein quantification. Review].
The role of eosinophils in the pathophysiology of atopic diseases, parasitic infestations, neoplasms, and immune deficiency, among other disorders, has been demonstrated in recent years. Among eosinophil constituents we find proteins associated with membranes, cytoplasm, and granules. When the cell is activated, it can release various products, notably the basic granular proteins which have a cytotoxic effect on bronchial epithelial cells, parasite larvae, and tumoral cells: principal basic protein, eosinophil cationic protein, protein X of the eosinophil/eosinophil-derived neurotoxin, and peroxidase derived from the eosinophil. Knowledge of the biological functions of these proteins and of their concentration in different tissues is important because it reflects the role of eosinophils in the production of the histologic and clinical findings of diverse disorders. Moreover, there are now sensitive radioimmunoassays that allow measurement of these substances in different body fluids, such as serum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, sputum, and nasal lavage fluid. In this sense, the protein most studied has been eosinophil cationic protein, although there also are many publications on the effects of principal basic protein on bronchial epithelium and its concentration in the sputum of asthmatic patients. As regards diagnostic performance, quantitation of the granular proteins can be useful for monitoring the activity of diseases such as bronchial asthma, and it helps to predict which patients may experience a delayed asthmatic reaction after bronchial provocation with and allergen. Finally, increased serum levels of principal basic protein in the last weeks of pregnancy seem to serve as a predictive index of term gestation.
Escudero Pastor
A
A
Hospital Rafael Méndez, Lorca, Murcia.
Hernández García
J
J
D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000032:analysis; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000737:chemistry; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000378:metabolism; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009296:Nasal Cavity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D013183:Sputum / Q000737:chemistry
D015415:Biomarkers; D001798:Blood Proteins; D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011506:Proteins
Rentabilidad diagnóstica de la cuantificación de las proteínas del Eosinófilo. Revisión.