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Eosinophils are white blood cells that play a role in immune system responses, allergies, and asthma. They are produced in the bone marrow and are part of a group of white blood cells known as granulocytes. Eosinophilia, where there are too many of these cells in the blood, can cause damage in high concentrations, while eosynpenia, where there are too few, can be the result of steroid use or Cushing’s syndrome.
An eosinophil is a type of white blood cell involved in immune system responses. These cells also appear to play a role in allergies and asthma when the body produces too many of them and overreacts to a perceived problem in the body, because they release substances that can be toxic. Like other types of blood cells, these cells may be counted when blood is drawn and separated, and an eosinophil count may be ordered to help a doctor figure out what is causing a medical problem.
The eosinophil cell gets its name from a type of acidic dye. The ability to thrive in acidic environments is important for an eosinophil, as it allows the cell to reach many areas of the body. Eosinophils may also be referred to as acidophiles in some regions of the world, reflecting their acid-loving nature, although this terminology is not usual.
Normally, eosinophils make up 10 to 10% of the white blood cells in the body. They are produced in the bone marrow and are part of a group of white blood cells known as granulocytes, because they are filled with tiny granules of material that they can release at the site of an infection or inflammatory reaction. In essence, granulocytes are like mobile first responders with their own toolkits that they can use to quickly address an emerging medical problem.
When an antigen is introduced into the human body, eosinophils are among the cells that arrive at the site to contain and neutralize the problem. An eosinophil can respond to bacterial, parasitic, and viral infections anywhere in the body, and the cells can also deal with ongoing inflammatory processes such as those caused by underlying infections or excessive immune responses. Typically, concentrations of these cells in the blood rise when someone is battling an infection.
In a condition known as eosinophilia, there are too many of these cells in the blood. This can be a big problem, because when cells degranulate, the compounds they carry can cause damage in high concentrations. When eosinophils crowd an area like the intestines to respond to an infection and then flood the area with various compounds, they can cause irritation, inflammation, and other problems. In allergic responses, eosinophils overreact to an allergen, causing problems such as skin irritation and difficulty breathing. Eosynpenia, in which there are too few of them, can be the result of steroid use or Cushing’s syndrome.
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