Using anthelminthic treatment-induced eosinophilia (in both lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis) as a model for physiological activation and recruitment of eosinophils, we have clearly established that there is an inverse relationship between circulating levels of RANTES and the ability of eosinophils to migrate from the blood to the sites of inflammation. Using immunohistochemical staining of skin biopsies taken from patients with onchocerciasis after ivermectin therapy, we have shown that, once recruited, the eosinophils degranulate and stimulate eotaxin production thereby allowing further eosinophil accumulation. One other major approach taken to understand eosinophil activation and regulation is a genetic approach in which we have identified a large kindred with familial hypereosinophilia. This syndrome is autosomal dominant and has allowed physical linkage of the responsible gene to chromosome 5 near to marker D5S1505. There are a number of genes in the area, including that for interleukin 5, but subsequent complete sequencing of the IL-5, IL-3 and GM-CSF gene and their promotes has not identified the candidate gene or mutation. Over the past year an integrated approach to this disorder has been taken by studying close to 17 members of the kindred. Data collected on their cells and eosinophils have suggested that their eosinophils are without major activation phenotypes (based on cell surface marker expression, electron microscopy, eosinophil survival assays). The interaction between helminth infeciton and allergic disease has been studied using epidemiological tools coupled with physiological measurements of allergic disease and immunological assessments. As this is a population based study, the collected data are now undergoing analysis.
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