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Review
. 2021 Jun;43(3):363-381.
doi: 10.1007/s00281-021-00870-z. Epub 2021 Jun 24.

Eosinophils and helminth infection: protective or pathogenic?

E Mitre  1 , A D Klion  2
Affiliations
Review

Eosinophils and helminth infection: protective or pathogenic?

E Mitre et al. Semin Immunopathol. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

Since the earliest descriptions of this enigmatic cell, eosinophils have been implicated in both protective and pathogenic immune responses to helminth infection. Nevertheless, despite substantial data from in vitro studies, human infections, and animal models, their precise role in helminth infection remains incompletely understood. This is due to a number of factors, including the heterogeneity of the many parasites included in the designation "helminth," the complexity and redundancy in the host immune response to helminths, and the pleiotropic functions of eosinophils themselves. This review examines the consequences of helminth-associated eosinophilia in the context of protective immunity, pathogenesis, and immunoregulation.

Keywords: Eosinophil; Helminth; Immune response; Parasite.

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