Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP)

Abstract

ECP (eosinophil cationic protein) was first purified from human myleoid cells in 1971 and identified as an eosinophil granule protein in 1975. ECP is a heterogeneous protein with molecular weights of the variants from 16-24 kDa. ECP is extremely basic with a pI of pH 10.8. The gene for ECP is found on chromosome 14 adjacent to other proteins of the ribonuclease family, with which ECP shares some sequence homologies. ECP has a variety of biological activities interacting with other immune cells and plasma proteins such as coagulation factors and proteins of the complement system. The cytotoxic activity, however, is the most conspicuous. The different isoforms of ECP seem to have different biological properties with respect to cytotoxicity and the effects on fibroblasts. ECP can be measured in biological fluids, by means of sensitive immunoassays, as an indication of eosinophil turnover and activity in vivo.