The eosinophil and its role in asthma.

1. The eosinophil is part of the host defence mechanism to parasitic infection, but is also a key cell in many inflammatory disorders. 2. Eosinophils synthesise a range of pro-inflammatory and cytotoxic mediators, such as basic proteins, hydrolytic enzymes, lipid mediators, cytokines, oxygen metabolites and neuropeptides. 3. Eosinophils are recruited to the lung during episodes of asthma. They migrate from the blood vessels into the tissue via a series of interactions between their surface adhesion molecules and endothelial cells or the extracellular matrix. 4. Activation and prolonged survival of eosinophils occurs upon exposure to mediators released from other tissue resident leukocytes, including eosinophils themselves, and from respiratory tract epithelial cells. Release of eosinophilic mediators causes tissue damage and persistent inflammation of the lung. 5. Currently the most effective therapy for asthma lies with anti-inflammatory drugs, of which the main choices are inhaled corticosteroids or cromolyn sodium and nedocromil sodium.