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. 2019 Jul 21;25(27):3503–3526. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i27.3503

Table 1.

Secretory substances produced by eosinophils

Substance Characteristics Pre-prodiced or de novo synthesysed Main functions Ref.
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]