Eosinophils in mucosal immune responses
J Travers, M E Rothenberg, J Travers, M E Rothenberg
Abstract
Eosinophils, multifunctional cells that contribute to both innate and adaptive immunity, are involved in the initiation, propagation, and resolution of immune responses, including tissue repair. They achieve this multifunctionality by expression of a diverse set of activation receptors, including those that directly recognize pathogens and opsonized targets, and by their ability to store and release preformed cytotoxic mediators that participate in host defense, to produce a variety of de novo pleotropic mediators and cytokines, and to interact directly and indirectly with diverse cell types, including adaptive and innate immunocytes and structural cells. Herein, we review the basic biology of eosinophils and then focus on new emerging concepts about their role in mucosal immune homeostasis, particularly maintenance of intestinal IgA. We review emerging data about their development and regulation and describe new concepts concerning mucosal eosinophilic diseases. We describe recently developed therapeutic strategies to modify eosinophil levels and function and provide collective insight about the beneficial and detrimental functions of these enigmatic cells.
Conflict of interest statement
Conflict of Interest: M.E.R. is a consultant for Immune Pharmaceuticals, Celsus and Receptos and has an equity interest in each and royalties from reslizumab, a drug being developed by Teva Pharmaceuticals. M.E.R. is an inventor of several patents owned by Cincinnati Children’s, and a set of these patents, related to molecular diagnostics, has been licensed to Diagnovus, LLC. J.T. has no potential conflicts to disclose.
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Source: PubMed