title: The Eosinophil in Health and Disease: from Bench to Bedside and Back.
abstract: Historically, eosinophils have been considered as end-stage cells involved in host protection against parasitic infection and in the mechanisms of hypersensitivity. However, later studies have shown that this multifunctional cell is also capable of producing immunoregulatory cytokines and soluble mediators and is involved in tissue homeostasis and modulation of innate and adaptive immune responses. In this review, we summarize the biology of eosinophils, including the function and molecular mechanisms of their granule proteins, cell surface markers, mediators, and pathways, and present comprehensive reviews of research updates on the genetics and epigenetics of eosinophils. We describe recent advances in the development of epigenetics of eosinophil-related diseases, especially in asthma. Likewise, recent studies have provided us with a more complete appreciation of how eosinophils contribute to the pathogenesis of various diseases, including hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES). Over the past decades, the definition and criteria of HES have been evolving with the progress of our understanding of the disease and some aspects of this disease still remain controversial. We also review recent updates on the genetic and molecular mechanisms of HES, which have spurred dramatic developments in the clinical strategies of diagnosis and treatment for this heterogeneous group of diseases. The conclusion from this review is that the biology of eosinophils provides significant insights as to their roles in health and disease and, furthermore, demonstrates that a better understanding of eosinophil will accelerate the development of new therapeutic strategies for patients.
authors.affiliation: Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics & Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics & Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis, Suite 6510, 451 Health Sciences Drive, Davis, CA, 95616, USA. c3chang@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Christopher Chia-Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics & Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China. qianlu5860@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Qianjin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D017681:Hypereosinophilic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D056747:Immunomodulation; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins
keywords: Asthma; Eosinophil; Eosinophilia; Epigenetics; Genetics; Hypereosinophilic syndrome; Inflammation