Effects of monocyte- and macrophage-derived products on granulocyte function in asthma.

The pathology of bronchial asthma demonstrates a multicellular process. The airway mucosa is infiltrated with both mononuclear cells and granulocytes, of which the eosinophil is particularly prominent. In order to elucidate the cellular biology of airways inflammation, it is important to understand the interactions between different cells, as well as the biology of each individual cell type. The review highlights the effects of monocyte-macrophage-derived cell products on granulocyte function, because of the evidence for monocyte/macrophage activation in bronchial asthma.