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Review
. 2017 Jun 30:4:93.
doi: 10.3389/fmed.2017.00093. eCollection 2017.

The Biology of Eosinophils and Their Role in Asthma

Claire N McBrien  1 , Andrew Menzies-Gow  2
Affiliations
Review

The Biology of Eosinophils and Their Role in Asthma

Claire N McBrien et al. Front Med (Lausanne). .

Abstract

This review will describe the structure and function of the eosinophil. The roles of several relevant cell surface molecules and receptors will be discussed. We will also explore the systemic and local processes triggering eosinophil differentiation, maturation, and migration to the lungs in asthma, as well as the cytokine-mediated pathways that result in eosinophil activation and degranulation, i.e., the release of multiple pro-inflammatory substances from eosinophil-specific granules, including cationic proteins, cytokines, chemokines growth factors, and enzymes. We will discuss the current understanding of the roles that eosinophils play in key asthma processes such as airway hyperresponsiveness, mucus hypersecretion, and airway remodeling, in addition to the evidence relating to eosinophil-pathogen interactions within the lungs.

Keywords: IL-5; asthma; asthma exacerbation; eosinophil receptors; eosinophils; respiratory tract infections.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Eosinophil ultrastructure. Schematic representation of an eosinophil showing the major organelles (black labels) and cell surface receptors (blue labels). Abbreviation: MHC-II, major histocompatibility complex-II.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The role of eosinophils in asthma. An overview of the main stimuli for eosinophilic airway inflammation (gray boxes) and the means by which eosinophils elicit the main pathophysiological changes associated with asthma (green boxes). Abbreviations: MBP, major basic protein; EPO, eosinophil peroxidase; IL, interleukin; TGF-β, transforming growth factor-β; GM-CSF, granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor; PGD2, prostaglandin-D2; 5-oxo-ETE, 5-oxo 6, 8, 11, 14-eicosatetraenoic acid; PAMPs, pathogen associated molecular patterns; DAMPs, damage associated molecular patterns; Ig, immunoglobulin.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The immunomodulatory role of eosinophils in asthma. Eosinophils may influence other leukocytes both directly (e.g., IL-6-induced B cell activation) and indirectly (e.g., by enhancing antigen presentation by dendritic cells). Abbreviations: TGF-β, transforming growth factor-β; IgE, immunoglobulin E; IL, interleukin; MBP, major basic protein; EPO, eosinophil peroxidase; NGF, nerve growth factor; TH1, type 1 T helper cell; TH2, type 2 T helper cell.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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