Characterisation of an eosinophil degranulating factor (EDF) from nasal polyps

Eosinophil leukocytes have been implicated in the pathophysiology of human allergic diseases. A better understanding of the particular mechanisms that cause eosinophils to release their toxic and pro-inflammatory products will facilitate the development of more selective therapeutic regimes with fewer side-effects than drugs currently used (for example corticosteroids). The study as described here will be undertaken to characterise a novel eosinophil degranulating factor (EDF) which has recently been isolated from human nasal polyps. Nasal polyposis and asthma are both expressions of airway inflammatory disease and share many fundamental pathological features and the characteristic eosinophil infiltration is an important component in both diseases. In contrast to human lung tissue, nasal polyps are readily available from routine surgery, a fact that offers a unique opportunity for the study of inflammatory events in the human airways. The results will thus provide new insights into the regulation of human eosinophil function and will uncover EDF as a possible target for anti-allergic therapy.