The human eosinophil in inflammation.

Active research during recent years has clearly shown that the eosinophil is a potent inflammatory cell taking active part in almost all kinds of inflammatory processes. The activity of the human eosinophil is mediated by the secretion of four well characterized cytotoxic proteins, ECP, EPO, EPX/EDN and MBP in addition to lipid mediators such as LTC4 and PAF and toxic oxygen metabolites. The cytotoxic potential of the eosinophil has been demonstrated in a number of diseases with a close association of eosinophil accumulation with secretion of granule proteins and tissue injury. Also the measurements of the proteins in various body fluids have provided evidence for the active participation of eosinophils in a number of diseases such as asthma, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis to mention a few. The identification of the principles that attract eosinophils to the sites of inflammation must be a major goal in our attempts to control the activity of this potents cell.