Allergic inflammation: focus on eosinophils

Abstract

In allergic diseases, such as atopic dermatitis 1, bronchial asthma 2, 3, rhinosinusitis 4, or eosinophilic esophagitis 5, eosinophil numbers are usually increased. Therefore, the physiological and pathological roles of eosinophils remain a hot research topic. Recent progress in the understanding of eosinophil biology includes recognizing the capacity of eosinophils to generate different functional subsets under in vivo inflammatory conditions 6, as well as extracellular DNA-containing structures able to bind and kill bacteria 7, 8. Furthermore, new pathogenetic insights reveal a molecular link between organismal metabolism and eosinophilic inflammation 9. The molecular interactions between mast cells and eosinophils in allergic inflammatory responses have evoked an increasing research interest 10, 11. The activation of eosinophils may result in tissue damage; therefore, inhibition of eosinophil effector functions is an important therapeutic strategy in eosinophilic disorders 12. Interestingly, CRTH2 antagonists have been demonstrated to exhibit anti-eosinophilic activities in allergic rhinitis 13 and eosinophilic esophagitis 14. But how can the anti-eosinophilic activity of a given drug be monitored? The results of a recent study suggest that, although reduced blood eosinophil numbers may reflect an anti-eosinophilic efficacy, they do not necessarily indicate a reduced eosinophilic inflammation 15. Thus, the search for and testing of eosinophil biomarkers remain subjects of intense investigation 16. In this issue of Allergy, several original articles report interesting new findings with implications for the diagnosis and treatment of eosinophilic diseases. Simon et al. demonstrate that adult patients suffering from eosinophilic esophagitis are frequently sensitized toward Candida albicans 17. It is possible that such patients would benefit from antimycotic therapy. Muniz-Junqueira et al. describe morphological changes in eosinophils that correlate with the severity of asthma exacerbations in children 18. Ueki et al. observed that retinoic acids increase the functional expression of eotaxin receptors, suggesting that vitamin A derivatives could play an important role in the tissue accumulation of eosinophils 19. Moreover, the molecular events of the eotaxin receptor-mediated signaling pathway have been investigated by Shamri et al., and the reported data are likely relevant for both host defense and immunopathology 20. Gleich et al. reviewed the current opinion with respect to the consequences of eosinophil-depleting treatments 21, and the data collected appear to be of great interest, particularly, because several anti-eosinophilic therapies are still in development. Taken together, research in the field of eosinophilic diseases continues to be promising. Indeed, several new therapeutic approaches to different allergic conditions have also recently been reported in the Journal 22-24. In spite of this progress, the role of the eosinophil in physiology and disease remains a subject for further research. Work in the laboratory of HUS is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation and Allergie-Stiftung Ulrich Müller-Gierok, Bern, Switzerland. The author declares no conflict of interest.