# EOSINOPHILS IN HUMAN DISEASE

> **NIH NIH R01** · MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER · 1990 · $118,945

## Abstract

This application proposes to examine the role of the eosinophil in human
disease.  Prior studies have shown that eosinophil granule proteins have
the ability to damage tissues and that the degree of participation of the
eosinophil in a given inflammatory reaction cannot be determined simply by
counting the numbers of eosinophils in tissues.  However, these prior
studies have examined only one granule protein, the major basic protein, as
an indicator of the eosinophil's contribution to pathologic processes.
Therefore, in the proposed studies we wish to establish assays for all of
the major eosinophil granule proteins and to use these measurements as
indicators of degranulation in studies of disease.  First, we describe the
development and standardization of new radioimmunoassays and
immunofluorescence assays for eosinophil granule proteins, including the
eosinophil-derived neurotoxin, the eosinophil cationic protein and the
eosinophil peroxidase.  These assays will be used to assess eosinophil
degranulation in body fluids and tissues along with already described assay
for the eosinophil granule major basic protein.  Second, assays for
eosinophil granule proteins will be used to investigate diseases such as
the toxic oil syndrome, systemic fibrosing syndromes, tropical diseases,
gastrointestinal diseases, vasculitic diseases, and colon cancer.  Based on
preliminary studies, we believe that eosinophil degranulation occurs in all
of these diseases.  Third, eosinophil degranulation will be studied in
vitro to determine whether degranulating eosinophils die, to investigate
eosinophil activating substances, and to establish model systems for
analyses of the role of IgG and IgE antibodies in degranulation.  Fourth,
light density eosinophils will be analyzed to determine the morphologic
basis for their reduced density and to determine whether they degranulate
more readily than normodense eosinophils.  Fifth, we describe experiments
to test the ability of eosinophil granules to stimulate fibroplasia; prior
studies have shown a striking association between degranulation and fibrous
tissue deposition.  Finally, we describe protocol for investigation of
patients with marked blood eosinophilia.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3126073
- **Project number:** 5R01AI015231-13
- **Recipient organization:** MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER
- **SAM.gov UEI:** Y2K4F9RPRRG7
- **Principal Investigator:** Gerald J Gleich
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $118,945
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1978-09-01 → 1991-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3126073

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3126073, EOSINOPHILS IN HUMAN DISEASE (5R01AI015231-13). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3126073. Licensed CC0.

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