[The assessment of Eo-CSF and cytokines as eosinopoietic factor]

Considerable attention has been paid to the possible role of eosinophils in the pathogenesis of allergic disease and it is highly important to examine the mechanism of this increase in eosinophils. Recently, several lymphokines, interleukin (IL)-3, IL-5, and granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), have been shown to act sequentially on eosinophil precursors to their multiplication and differentiation. To clarify the mechanism of the increase of eosinophils, these cytokines and eosinophil colony stimulating factor (Eo-CSF) must be measured. Eo-CSF is generally determined by colony formation methods, such as the methylcellulose method or liquid culture method. The detection and measurement of cytokines have traditionally been achieved by a lineage of committed cells and recently sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) have been developed for human IL-3, IL-5 and GM-CSF.