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Eosinophils, or eosinocytes (eosinophils or EOS), are a type of white blood cells, i.e. leukocytes. Their main task is to participate in the immune response of our body. What are the EOS standards? As evidenced by elevated eosinophils, what to do when eosinophils are too low?

Eosinophils . otherwiseeosinocytes( eosinophils ,EOS ), are a type of white blood cells. Their name comes from eosin - a red dye that stains these cells during their determination. In addition to eosinophils, white blood cells also include:

  • neutrophils (NEU, neutrophils),
  • basophils (BASO, basophils),
  • monocytes (MONO),
  • B and T cells (LYM).

Hence, the abbreviations of the names of individual cell groups that often appear in research descriptions: Baso, Lym, Neu, Mono, Eo, etc. All these cells are part of a complex system - the immune system of our body. The test that is most often performed to determine the level of eosinophils, and the other cell lines of white blood cells, is the so-calledblood count with smear , i.e.more detailed analysis of the so-called blood count .

Blood smear is an analysis of the leukocyte population in order to determine the number of absolute values ​​or percentages of individual components such as monocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils, and neutrophils.

Eosinophils (eosinocytes, EOS): norms

The correct percentage of eosinophils as a component of leukocytes, depending on the adopted standards, oscillates between 1-5% … Eosinocytes are therefore4th largest component of leukocytes.The largest percentage - as much as 60%, are neutrophils.

Rough reference values ​​for adult eosinophils are roughlyfrom 50 to 250 cells per µL .

These values ​​will be strongly dependent on many physiological and disease factors affecting humans, such as, for example, exercise, stress or the immune status of the organism.

It is quite rare thateosinophilsareelevated.The increase in lymphocytes and neutrophils is much more frequent.

Eosinophils increased - which meanshigh levels of eosinocytes (EOS)?

Increased value of eosinophils(elevated eosinocytes)is when their number exceeds 500 / µl and this condition is calledeosinophilia .

Hypoosinophiliais a condition consisting in selectively increasing the percentage of peripheral blood eosinophils above 1500 / µl above the normal limits.

Increased eosinophils (increased eosinocytes) - causes

The most common causes of elevated eosinophil levels include:

  • parasitic infections, mainly in the intestines - an example can be infections:
    • tapeworm
    • human roundworm
    • bubble
  • allergic diseases:
    • allergic rhinitis
    • bronchial asthma
    • atopic dermatitis
  • autoimmune diseases or collagen diseases, such as:
    • RA (rheumatoid arthritis)
    • SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus)
    • vasculitis e.g. polyarteritis nodosa
  • neoplastic diseases like:
    • Hodgkin's lymphoma
    • chronic eosinophilic leukemia, etc.
  • endocrine diseases, Addison's disease or other causes of low glucocorticoid levels
  • eosinophilic esophagitis
  • hypereosinophilic syndrome
  • some medications

Eosinophils below normal - what does low eosinocytes (EOS) mean?

The opposite of eosinophilia iseosinopenia,which is lowering the number of eosinophils below 50 / μl. It is worth paying attention to the fact that due to the relatively low normal values ​​of eosinocytes and their high physiological variability, the diagnosis of eosinopenia is quite difficult.

Eosinopenia: causes

The causes of eosinopenia include:

  • the initial stage of infection (especially when leukocytosis is additionally revealed in tests)
  • increased levels of glucocorticoids, hyperadrenocorticism, e.g. in Cushing's disease or Cushing's syndrome
  • radiotherapy
  • long-term stress
  • some medications

Please note that the meredisturbance of eosinocyte (eosinophil) values ​​ can never be a reason to start treatment.

When interpreting the resultsmorphology, one should follow the standards in force in the laboratory where the test was performed.

The results of all determined laboratory parameters must be analyzed, and most of all, the clinical condition of the patient. When in doubt, consult your he althcare practitionerwho may decide onperforming further tests, as well as implementing possible treatment.

Eosinophils structure and functions. The role of eosinocytes in the body

Eosinocytes are cells whose main task is to participate in the immune response of our body. They are formed in the bone marrow, and after reaching maturity, they enter the bloodstream and travel with the blood to the tissues.

When writing about the origin of eosinophils, remember that all leukocytes can be divided into 2 groups -agranulocytesandgranulocytes . In this case, eosinophils belong to the group of granulocytes in addition to neutrophils and basophils. The name granulocytes comes from the granules contained in the cytoplasm of these cells. These are vesicles containing numerous proteins, hydrolytic enzymes or peroxidase.

These substances havethe ability to destroy pathogenic microorganisms(in the case of eosinocytes these will be mainlyparasites ). The process itself is quite complicated, and the description of the occurring phenomena is de alt with in such fields of science as histology and immunology. However, in order to outline at least in part the function of eosinophils in the fight against pathogens, I will describe the phenomenon of the so-calledAntibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity(ADCC Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity).

This is theprocess of killing microbial cellsin case the parasite is too large to be phagocytosed .

During this reaction, substances contained in eosinophil granules are released under the influence ofIgE antibodiescirculating in our body. The antibodies coat the surface of the parasite. This allows eosinophils to attach to it, releasing (degranulating) parasiticidal substances contained in the granules and leading to its death.

Examples are the basic protein MBP and the eosinophilic cationic protein, which create holes in the parasitic worms' shells, thereby inducing their death. Therefore, it is not difficult to notice that one of the most frequent situations where we deal with increased levels of eosinophils in our body will be infections with a parasitic disease.

Another mechanism of the fight of eosinocytes with microbes is theability to phagocytose , which literally can be translated as "devouring" microbial cells.

Interestingly, eosinophils also contain the enzymehistaminase , which is responsible for the breakdown of histamine (one of the major tissue hormones that triggers an allergic reaction). The role of eosinophils will therefore be to reduce the severity of this reaction and to regulate immunological processes during excessive activityresponses to allergens.

However, the role of eosinophils in our body is not always positive. It happens that their high level may suggest an excessive or inadequate reaction of the immune system. We can meet with such a situation, among others in the case of:

  • bronchial asthma,
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
  • eosinophilic esophagitis,
  • hypereosinophilic syndrome.

Read also:

  • Granulocytes: functions and norms
  • Granulocytopenia: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
  • Agranulocytosis: causes, symptoms, treatment
  • Albumin - blood level. Structure, role and functions of albumin

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Research