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The Eosinophil in Health and Disease: from Bench to Bedside and Back

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Abstract

Historically, eosinophils have been considered as end-stage cells involved in host protection against parasitic infection and in the mechanisms of hypersensitivity. However, later studies have shown that this multifunctional cell is also capable of producing immunoregulatory cytokines and soluble mediators and is involved in tissue homeostasis and modulation of innate and adaptive immune responses. In this review, we summarize the biology of eosinophils, including the function and molecular mechanisms of their granule proteins, cell surface markers, mediators, and pathways, and present comprehensive reviews of research updates on the genetics and epigenetics of eosinophils. We describe recent advances in the development of epigenetics of eosinophil-related diseases, especially in asthma. Likewise, recent studies have provided us with a more complete appreciation of how eosinophils contribute to the pathogenesis of various diseases, including hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES). Over the past decades, the definition and criteria of HES have been evolving with the progress of our understanding of the disease and some aspects of this disease still remain controversial. We also review recent updates on the genetic and molecular mechanisms of HES, which have spurred dramatic developments in the clinical strategies of diagnosis and treatment for this heterogeneous group of diseases. The conclusion from this review is that the biology of eosinophils provides significant insights as to their roles in health and disease and, furthermore, demonstrates that a better understanding of eosinophil will accelerate the development of new therapeutic strategies for patients.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81220108017, No. 81430074, No. 81301357, and No. 81270024), the Ph.D. Programs Foundation of Ministry of Education of China (No. 20120162130003), the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province of China (13JJ4025), and the National Key Clinical Speciality Construction Project of National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics & Department of Dermatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China

      Wei Liao, Hai Long & Qianjin Lu

    2. Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis, Suite 6510, 451 Health Sciences Drive, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

      Christopher Chia-Chi Chang

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    1. Wei Liao
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    Correspondence to Christopher Chia-Chi Chang or Qianjin Lu.

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    Wei Liao and Hai Long contributed equally to this work.

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    Liao, W., Long, H., Chang, C.CC. et al. The Eosinophil in Health and Disease: from Bench to Bedside and Back. Clinic Rev Allerg Immunol 50, 125–139 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12016-015-8507-6

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