FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY OF AIRWAY EOSINOPHILS IN ALLERGIC DISEASE

本子项目是利用由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源的众多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能已经从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。列出的机构是中心的，不一定是研究者的机构。根据该方案进行的所有实验室研究的目标是帮助确定嗜酸性粒细胞（过敏细胞）在哮喘中的作用。我们的研究表明，哮喘研究志愿者肺部诱导痰（粘液）中嗜酸性粒细胞的存在与气道高反应性或哮喘气道的“抽搐”有关，而不是肺功能的实际下降。嗜酸性粒细胞也被认为是一种有助于调节气道炎症的细胞，而不仅仅是一种移动到肺部造成不良影响的细胞。本研究将有助于进一步研究嗜酸性粒细胞在哮喘中的复杂作用。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The goal of all of the laboratory studies conducted under this protocol is to help to determine the role of the eosinophil (allergy cell) in asthma. Our studies have indicated that the presence of the eosinophil in induced sputum (mucous) from the lungs of research volunteers with asthma is associated with airway hyperresponsiveness or the 'twitchiness' of the asthmatic airway rather than the actual decrease in lung function. The eosinophil is also becoming recognized as a cell that helps to regulate airway inflammation and is not simply a cell that moves to the lung to cause bad effects. This study will help to further research in to the complex role that eosinophils have in asthma.