Review article: the eosinophil as a therapeutic target in gastrointestinal disease

Abstract

SUMMARYElevated levels of eosinophils in the gastrointestinal tract is a common feature of numerous gastrointestinal disorders including food allergy, parasitic infections, gastro-oesophageal reflux, eosinophilic oesophagitis, eosinophilic gastroenteritis, allergic colitis and inflammatory bowel diseases. Recently, clinical and experimental studies have provided evidence that eosinophils have a critical role in the pathophysiology of eosinophilassociated gastrointestinal disease. Collectively, these studies have provided relevant insight into identifying key targets for therapeutic intervention. The present review describes recent experimental investigations on the role of eosinophils in the clinical manifestations of eosinophil-associated gastrointestinal disease and discusses future therapeutic approaches for the treatment of disease.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis: a review

“…One study suggested this therapeutic strategy. 104 First, they recommended specifi c allergy avoidance (airborne and dietary). If this failed to improve EGID pathology, then they recommended glucocorticoid therapy, fi rst starting with topical delivery and then considering systemic delivery.…”

Evaluation of site-specific and seasonal variation in colonic mucosal eosinophils

“…Eosinophils are multifunctional proinflammatory peripheral blood leukocytes that have been implicated in a number of immune-mediated diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, particularly allergic disorders [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Activated degranulating eosinophils release major basic protein, which can decrease mucosal epithelial barrier function and contribute to the epithelial cell damage seen in inflammatory bowel diseases, suggesting a role for eosinophils in their pathogenensis [8,9].…”

Concurrent Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis and Eosinophilic Colitis

“…The mechanism underlying the development of concurrent PSC and eosinophilic enteritis has not been elucidated to date. However, possible mechanisms include the involvement of factors that promote the proliferation of eosinophils in the bone marrow and their migration to inflammatory tissue, as well as the expression of eosinophilic granular proteins at affected sites, including eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) (14,15). These factors were not assessed in In the current case, eosinophilic cholangitis is another differential diagnosis of PSC.…”