Eosinophils
Worm infections, defend against tissue stages of parasites that are too large for phagocytosis
- Less phagocytic than neutrophils
- Degranulate due to perturbation of their surface
- Enhanced by cytokines TNFα, GM-CSF.
- Majority of activities controlled by Ag-specific mechanisms
- Binding to larvae of worms (S. mansoni, T. spiralis) coated with IgE or IgG increases granule release
- Major basic protein (MBP) in crystalloid granules
- Act with mast cells against S. Mansoni
- Release of Ags->degranulation of mast cells->release of mediators attracting more eosinophils and increasing activity