Authors

Discussion

Eosinophils are non-dividing, fully differentiated granule containing cells that form part of the local cellular pool in the gut during homeostasis. However, during inflammatory conditions such as allergic diseases and parasitic infections. , the numbers of eosinophils increases. Eosinophil numbers then subsequently decrease upon the resolution of infection, however, a small number remain within the gut.  Despite this knowledge, the role of eosinophils in both the maintenance of gut homeostasis and the development or resolution of inflammation is poorly understood. Our previous work suggested that they have differing functions in small intestine vs large intestine therefore in this study we looked at large and small intestinal inflammation. Additionally the loss of eosinophils in the gut has been shown to result in gut dysfunction and leaky gut syndrome but the exact mechanisms are unclear.

Using C57BL/6 mice and eosinophil deficient ΔdblGATA mice we have studied the role of eosinophils in a high dose Trichuris muris infection. In the current study we have demonstrated the changes in the eosinophil population and localisation of this cell type within the gut at day 0, 14, 21 and 35 post-infection. We observed that a proportion of these cells are located close to epithelial cells. Additionally, we investigated eosinophils in the context of Trichinella spiralis infection. We found that eosinophil numbers and localisation were similar to those in T. muris infected mice. Taken together this data suggests that eosinophils may be interacting with the epithelial cells to mediate healthy gut function. We now aim to look at tight junction distribution to look at changes in gut barrier function in eosinophil deficient mice.

Given this interaction between the eosinophil and epithelial cells we are now investigating the properties of eosinophils in vitro using an eosinophil cell line and different inducers of activation including T. muris derived products. Through this we therefore hope to further elucidate the role of eosinophils in gut barrier function.