Lessons learned from targeting eosinophils in human disease

Fei Li Kuang*, Bruce S. Bochner

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Eosinophils are a minor subset of the granulocyte lineage distinguished by their unique morphology, phenotype, cytoplasmic contents, and function. Evolutionarily, these are ancient cells whose existence has been conserved within vertebrates for millions of years, suggesting that their contribution to innate immunity and other pathologic and homeostatic responses are important to the host. Knowledge regarding the role of eosinophils in health and disease took a leap forward in 2004 with the creation of mouse strains deficient in eosinophils. This advance was paralleled in humans using pharmacology, namely, with the development of drugs capable of selectively reducing and sometimes even eliminating human eosinophils in those receiving these agents. As a result, a more definitive picture of what eosinophils do, and do not do, is emerging. This review will summarize recent advances in our understanding of the role of eosinophils in human disease by focusing mainly on data from clinical studies with anti-eosinophil therapies, even though the first of such agents, mepolizumab, was only approved in the USA in November 2015. Information regarding both efficacy and safety will be highlighted, and where relevant, intriguing data from animal models will also be mentioned, especially if there are conflicting effects seen in humans.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)459-475
Number of pages17
JournalSeminars in Immunopathology
Volume43
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2021

Funding

This work was supported in part by a grant to BSB from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U19AI136443).

Keywords

  • Depletion
  • Efficacy
  • Eosinophil
  • Human
  • Pharmacology
  • Safety

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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