The role of eosinophils in asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease, in which eosinophils play a central role through releasing proinflammatory mediators that damage host tissue.Over the last two decades, eosinophil granular proteins destructing the respiratory epithelium have been isolated and named the major basic protein (MBP), eosinophil peroxidase, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin, and eosinophil cationic protein.Eosinophils also release lipid mediators such as cysteinyl leukotrienes, which cause airway smooth muscle contraction, increases vascular