Eosinophil Differentiation Factor (EDF), also known as Interleukin-5 (IL-5), is a cytokine that plays a crucial role in the development, growth, and activation of eosinophils, which are a type of white blood cell involved in the immune response against parasitic infections and allergic reactions.
EDF/IL-5 is produced by activated T-cells, particularly T-helper 2 (Th2) cells, and acts as a pleiotropic factor in various cellular processes. It exerts its effects by binding to specific receptors on the surface of eosinophils, initiating a signaling cascade that leads to eosinophil activation, proliferation, and survival.
This cytokine has been implicated in several diseases associated with eosinophilia, such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eosinophilic esophagitis. It promotes eosinophil infiltration into tissues by increasing their production and release from the bone marrow, as well as by enhancing their migration towards sites of inflammation.
EDF/IL-5 also stimulates eosinophils to release various pro-inflammatory molecules, including histamine, leukotrienes, and cytokines, which contribute to the pathogenesis of allergy-related and inflammatory diseases.
In therapeutic applications, EDF/IL-5 has been targeted for the treatment of eosinophilic disorders. Anti-IL-5 antibodies and other drugs aimed at blocking the action of EDF/IL-5 have shown promise in reducing eosinophil numbers and alleviating symptoms in conditions such as severe asthma and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
