Eosinophils

Question 1

what are features of eosinophils

Answer 1

• 12-17 µm
• circulate for 2-8 hrs
• migrate to skin, pulmonary (respiratory) mucosae and gastrointestinal mucosae
• Granules are acidophilic so are dark red with eosin staining
• Bi-lobed nucleus - these are often partly obscured by granules

Question 2

What are functions of Eosinphils?

Answer 2

• influenced by chemotaxis to chase pathogens
• involved in mediating allergic response
• can be phagocytic cells that form antibody-antigen complexes
• also undergoes exocytosis of toxic components.

Question 3

Why is eosinophils undergoing exocytosis an advantage for the immune system?

Answer 3

it makes them effective against multicellular parasites too big to engulf

Question 4

what might a high count of eosinophils indicate?

Answer 4

• Allergic reaction
• parasitic infection
• autoimmune disease

Question 5

what might a low count of eosinophils indicate?

Answer 5

• Drug toxicity
• stress