title: Anti-allergic therapies: effects on eosinophil progenitors.
abstract: Marked eosinophilic infiltration is the typical inflammatory response associated with allergic inflammation. Previous research involving animal and human models has established a role for the eosinophil/basophil hematopoietic progenitor in a systemic process of allergic inflammation. In this article, we will review the evidence implicating eosinophil/basophil progenitors in this systemic response and will discuss the rationale for targeting this cell in the treatment of allergic disease. In this context, we discuss corticosteroid treatment of allergic diseases, such as asthma and its effects on hematopoietic mechanisms, the effects of therapies that inhibit the actions of cysteinyl leukotrienes, the effects of in vivo blockade of the eosinophil-active cytokine interleukin-5, and the effects of antihistamines on hematopoiesis. It is suggested that several anti-allergic therapies exert their beneficial effects on allergic inflammation by influencing eosinophil production systemically. Therefore, targeting the systemic hematopoietic response may provide additional, more beneficial, therapeutic effects.
authors.affiliation: Asthma Research Group, Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, HSC 3V46, Canada.
authors.forename: Adrian J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Baatjes
authors.forename: Roma
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sehmi
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Cyr
authors.forename: Sandra C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Dorman
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Inman
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: O'Byrne
authors.forename: Judah A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Denburg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000276:immunology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013256:Steroids
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D015848:Interleukin-5; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists; D013256:Steroids