White Blood Cell Disorders and Platelets:: 5. Miscellaneous Granulocytic Cells

Eosinophil description

  • The cytoplasm of eosinophils is evenly filled by numerous orange-red granules of uniform size. They do not overlie the nucleus.
  • The eosinophil granules contain numerous enzymes including peroxidase, phospholipase D, catalase, acid phosphatase, and vitamin B12-binding proteins.
  • Their ability to kill bacteria is less than that of neutrophils. Their main purpose is to counteract parasitic infections and to participate in immune allergic reactions.
  • They may also be increased in a variety of nonimmunologic inflammatory responses from bacteria and fungi causing chronic infections. Malignancies, collagen vascular diseases, and myeloproliferative disorders may also may be settings for prominent eosinophils.

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