Kay A B, Corrigan C J
Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Heart & Lung Institute, London.
Br Med Bull. 1992 Jan;48(1):51-64. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.bmb.a072541.
Eosinophils are strongly implicated as a major proinflammatory cell in the pathogenesis of asthma. Basic proteins from the crystalloid granule may be responsible for damage to mucosal epithelium whereas membrane-derived lipid mediators (particularly platelet activating factor and leukotriene C4) might directly influence bronchial smooth muscle contraction, microvascular permeability and mucus hypersecretion. The numbers of eosinophils and their products correlated with the severity of disease whereas successful treatment is usually associated with a resolution of local eosinophilia. Neutrophils may also be implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma but the evidence that this cell per se plays an important role remains controversial. Neutrophil products have the potential for altering airway function. More research is required to define the precise role of this cell type in asthma. It needs to be emphasised that the inflammation associated with bronchial asthma is complex and involves several cell types (i.e. T lymphocytes, mast cells and macrophages) in addition to the eosinophil and neutrophil.
嗜酸性粒细胞被强烈认为是哮喘发病机制中的主要促炎细胞。晶体颗粒中的碱性蛋白可能导致黏膜上皮损伤，而膜衍生的脂质介质（特别是血小板活化因子和白三烯C4）可能直接影响支气管平滑肌收缩、微血管通透性和黏液分泌过多。嗜酸性粒细胞及其产物的数量与疾病严重程度相关，而成功的治疗通常与局部嗜酸性粒细胞增多的消退有关。中性粒细胞也可能参与哮喘的发病机制，但这种细胞本身起重要作用的证据仍存在争议。中性粒细胞产物有可能改变气道功能。需要更多研究来确定这种细胞类型在哮喘中的精确作用。需要强调的是，与支气管哮喘相关的炎症很复杂，除了嗜酸性粒细胞和中性粒细胞外，还涉及多种细胞类型（即T淋巴细胞、肥大细胞和巨噬细胞）。
