The role of eosinophils in parasitism and allergies: A review.

Abstract

Eosinophils are bone marrow produced granulocytes known to play key roles in mammalian host’s defence against parasitic infections and allergic reactions. Although a lot of studies were carried out to establish these roles, conflicting research findings rendered the long-established relationship between eosinophils and the induction of allergic sensitivity and their roles in helminth infections controversial. Emerging evidence from recent research efforts showed that eosinophils stimulated airway remodelling and also served to control the immune response in allergic reactions. Research was conducted using databases such as Google, Google Scholar, Research gate, Scopus, Science Direct and Pub Med. The key words used for the search were eosinophils and eosinophilia, then the relevant articles were selected. This article explains the mechanism of eosinophilia in parasitism as well as allergic reactions. In this article, the concept of eosinophilia, its different classes and the role it plays in parasitism and allergies are reviewed and discussed.