A role for eosinophils in airway remodelling in asthma.
Over the years, the role of the eosinophil in asthma and allergic processes has been disputed. Recent human experiments using a humanised monoclonal antibody to interleukin-5 (IL-5), and animal studies involving specific IL-5 gene deletion, indicates that eosinophils might control downstream repair and remodelling processes. Eosinophils are a rich source of fibrogenic factors, particularly transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), the latent form of which is activated by epithelial-cell expression of the intergin alpha(v)beta(6). The emerging role for the eosinophil in airway remodelling might be important in future anti-asthma strategies. However, more effective eosinophil-depleting agents than anti-IL-5 are required before the definitive role of this cell type in asthma airway pathophysiology can be established.
Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Imperial College London, National Heart & Lung Institute, Guy Scadding Building, Dovehouse Street, London, UK. a.b.kay@imperial.ac.uk
A Barry
AB
Kay
Simon
S
Phipps
Douglas S
DS
Robinson
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015848:Interleukin-5; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta