Located within the core of specific (crystalloid) granules |
Major basic proteins 1 and 2 (MBP1 and MBP2) |
Small highly cationic proteins (MBP2 is less basic) |
Pre-produced |
Highly cytotoxic to host cells, antihelminthic, antibacterial (MBP1 is more potent and associated with EETosis) |
[2,4,32,36] |
Located within the matrix of specific (crystalloid) granules |
Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) |
Small highly cationic protein with a weak ribonuclease activity (ribonuclease 3) |
Pre-produced |
Highly cytotoxic to host cells, neurotoxic, antihelminthic, antibacterial, antiviral, associated with EETosis |
[2,4,32,36] |
Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin |
Small basic (less cationic than MBP1 and ECP) protein with a ribonuclease activity (ribonuclease 2) |
Pre-produced |
Cytotoxic to host cells, neurotoxic, strongly antiviral, antibacterial, |
[2,4,32,36] |
Eosinophil peroxidase |
Highly cationic heme-containing haloperoxidase |
Pre-produced |
Generates ROS exerting potent antibacterial and antihelminthic effects |
[2,4,32,36] |
Charcot-Leyden crystal protein (CLC, galectin-10) |
Small slightly acidic protein |
Probably pre-produced |
Unclear, but involvement EETosis and a role in interactions between eosinophils and T-cells are suggested |
[31,32,36-38] |
Most likely stored within specific granules, but some may be synthesised de novo in the cytoplasm |
IL1β, IL2, IL3, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL10, IL11, IL13, IL16, IL18, IL25 (IL17E), IFNγ, GM-CSF, TGFα, TNFα, TNFβ, leukaemia inhibitory factor |
Cytokines |
Mostly pre-produced; some may be de novo synthesised |
A wide range of signaling and regulatory functions |
[4,5,32,39] |
HB-EGF-LBP, NGF, PDGF, SCF, EGF, VEGF, APRIL |
Growth factors |
Pre-produced or de novo synthesised |
Signalling functions related to cell proliferation and differentiation |
[4,5,32] |
CCL3, CCL5, CCL6, CCL7, CCL8, CCL9, CCL11 (eotaxin-1), CCL13, CXCL1, CXCL8, CXCL10, CXCL12 |
Chemokines |
Pre-produced or de novo synthesised |
Cell migration regulation |
[4,5,32,39] |
Matrix metalloproteinases MMP9 and MMP17, acid phosphatase, collagenase, arylsulfatase B, histaminase, phospholipase D, catalase, non-specific esterases |
Enzymes |
Pre-produced or de novo synthesised |
Inflammation-related effector functions including cytotoxicity, extracellular matrix modification and phagocytosis |
[4,5,32] |
Produced within the lipid bodies |
Leukotrienes C4, D4 and E4, Thromboxane B2, Prostaglandins E1 and E2, 15-hydroxyeicosatetranoeic acid, platelet-activating factor |
Lipid signalling factors, mostly eicosanoids |
De novo synthesised |
A broad range of effects in inflammatory and allergic responses |
[4,5,34] |