Eosinophil granulocytes, commonly referred to as eosinophils (or less commonly as acidophils), are white blood cells that are responsible for combating infection by parasites in the body. They also have a rather diverse array of other functions, impacting multiple areas of immunology including allergy and asthma.
Eosinophils persist in the circulation for 6-12 hours, and can survive in tissue for an additional 2-3 days in the absence of stimulation. Eosinophils make up about 1-5% of the all white blood cells, and are about 10-12 micrometers in size.
Eosinophils are found naturally in the thymus (cortico-medullary junction and medulla), lower gastrointestinal track, ovary during phases of the cycle, uterus, spleen, and lymph nodes. They are not found naturally in the lung, skin, or other organs. The presence of eosinohils in the lung, skin, esophogus, or internal organs is associated with a disease process.
BMK-13
can serve as a useful pan-eosinophil marker
in tissue sections since it appears to stain most eosinophils.
PMID: 1373987
CD9
involved in the adhesion of eosinophils to
fibronectin.
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seem to detect activated eosinophils in the
circulation.
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CD44 and CD69
represent different types of cell-surface
activation markers for human eosinophils.
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CD69
a useful marker for activated eosinophils at
inflammatory sites.
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ECP (Eosinophil Cationic Protein, EG1/EG2)
released by eosinophils, is a marker of
eosinophil activity.
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a marker of eosinophilic activity and
degranulation that correlates with the severity of bronchial
asthma.
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a serological marker of disease activity in
childhood bronchial asthma.
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a marker of eosinophilic inflammation in
asthma.
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EDN (eosinophil derived neurotoxin)
a catalytically proficient member of the
pancreatic ribonuclease superfamily secreted along with other
eosinophil granule proteins during innate host defense responses
and various eosinophil-related inflammatory and allergic
diseases.
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one of the four basic proteins stored in
specific eosinophil granules, can also be detected at the
surface of granulocytes.
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a rapidly evolving secretory protein derived
from eosinophilic leukocytes.
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Eosinophil Peroxidase (EPO)
a simple specific marker for detecting
eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.
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a unique component of eosinophils, is a
useful marker for the identification of eosinophils in sputum
and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.
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Eosinophil Protein-X (EPX)
Eosinophil activation marker.
PMID: 8721862
one of the cationic proteins found in the
granules of the human eosinophilic granulocytes.
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IL-5
eosinophil activation marker.
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LA Antigen
a differentiation marker on human eosinophils.
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MBP1/MBP2 (major basic protein)
MBP1 is more abundant than MBP2 in lysates of
eosinophils and their granules, as judged by immunoassay and
Western blotting. By immunofluorescence, MBP1 is present in
eosinophils, basophils, and a human mast cell line (HMC1),
whereas MBP2 is only detected in eosinophils. Neither MBP1 nor
MBP2 could be detected in any other peripheral blood leukocyte.
MBP2 is present only in eosinophils and that it may be a useful
biomarker for eosinophil-associated diseases.
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Other Eosinophil Markers
A photoreactive fluorescent marker for
identifying eosinophils and their cytoplasmic granules in
tissues.
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Systemic activation of basophils and
eosinophils: markers and consequences.
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Surface markers of human eosinophils.
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3-Bromotyrosine and 3,5-dibromotyrosine are
major products of protein oxidation by eosinophil peroxidase:
potential markers for eosinophil-dependent tissue injury in
vivo.
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Eosinophil granule proteins (MBP, ECP, EPX/EDN, EPO)--a possible process of eosinophil activation and degranulation. PMID: 8492433