EOSINOPHIL ACTIVITY IN BRONCHIAL-ASTHMA

Eosinophil cationic proteins (ECP), eosinophil protein X (EPX), eosino phil peroxidase (EPO), eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN), and the ma jor basic protein (MBP) have been identified as potent cytotoxic secre tory proteins in degranulated eosinophils. Studies of these proteins h ave clearly indicated a role for eosinophil-derived proteins in inflam matory diseases, including asthmatic inflammation. It has been shown t hat higher levels of ECP in asthmatics were concomitant with severity of the disease and related to efficacy of treatment of asthma. Proper handling of blood serum for measurement of eosinophil and neutrophil m arkers including myeloperoxidase (MPO) is essential. Moreover, the tim e factor in ECP measurement is an important variable because ECP level s differ in chronic stable asthma, during acute exacerbations of asthm a, and after allergen challenge. Simultaneous measurements of ECP and MPO may prove to be useful in determining various causes of asthma exa cerbations, helping to discriminate between allergic etiologies wherei n ECP levels may increase versus infectious etiologies wherein MPO lev els may increase Monitoring the efficacy of anti-inflammatory therapie s such as corticosteroids may be enhanced by serial determinations of ECP levels in the blood.