EOSINOPHIL LYSIS AND FREE GRANULES - AN IN-VIVO PARADIGM FOR CELL ACTIVATION AND DRUG DEVELOPMENT

Release of cytotoxic granule proteins from activated eosinophil granul es is considered to be a key pathogenic mechanism in eosinophilic dise ases. Degenerated eosinophils and extracellular eosinophil granules ha ve been repeatedly depicted. The present overview describes evidence t hat eosinophil lysis and distribution of free eosinophil granules (as opposed to 'classical degranulation') is an important mechanism by whi ch eosinophils affect their surroundings. Here, Carl Persson and Jonas Erjefalt summarize how recent reports on the induction of eosinophil lysis in vivo provide a new paradigm for eosinophil activation and thu s constitute a novel basis for pharmacological manipulations in eosino philic diseases.