title: Functional role of eosinophils in gastrointestinal inflammation.
abstract: Eosinophilic gastrointestinal (GI) diseases (EGIDs) are characterized by a rich eosinophilic inflammation of the GI tract. Clinical and experimental studies suggest that eosinophils have a pathogenic role in EGIDs; however, the function of eosinophils in these diseases remains an enigma. This article describes eosinophil immunoregulatory and effector function and discusses the possible involvement of these pathways in EGIDs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039, USA. simon.hogan@cchmc.org
authors.forename: Simon P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hogan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000276:immunology; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000276:immunology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D051379:Mice; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D003165:Complement System Proteins