THE ROLE OF THE EOSINOPHIL IN GASTROINTESTINAL-DISEASES

The infiltration of eosinophils into sites of active inflammation is s een in a number of gastrointestinal diseases. The precise role of the eosinophil in the pathophysiology of these disease processes, however, has not been elucidated. This review discusses some of the gastrointe stinal conditions associated with eosinophilia, presents recent eviden ce regarding the potential mechanisms involved in the recruitment and migration of eosinophils, and discusses the mediators produced by eosi nophils that may be involved in the initiation or regulation of the in flammatory response.