The role of eosinophils in airway inflammation and asthma pathogenesis is well established, with raised eosinophil counts in blood and sputum associated with increased disease severity and risk of asthma exacerbation. Conversely, there is also preliminary evidence suggesting antiviral properties of eosinophils in the airways. These dual roles for eosinophils are particularly pertinent as respiratory virus infections contribute to asthma exacerbations. Biologic therapies targeting key molecules implicated in eosinophil‐associated pathologies have been approved in patients with severe asthma and, therefore, the effects of depleting eosinophils in a clinical setting are of considerable interest. This review discusses the pathological and antiviral roles of eosinophils in asthma and exacerbations. We also highlight the significant reduction in asthma exacerbations seen with biologic therapies, even at the height of the respiratory virus season. Furthermore, we discuss the implications of these findings in relation to the role of eosinophils in inflammation and antiviral responses to respiratory virus infection in asthma.

中文翻译：

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嗜酸性粒细胞性炎症和气道病毒相互作用在严重哮喘中的治疗相关性


嗜酸性粒细胞在气道炎症和哮喘发病机制中的作用已得到充分证实，血液和痰液中嗜酸性粒细胞计数升高与疾病严重程度和哮喘发作风险增加有关。相反，也有初步证据表明气道中嗜酸性粒细胞具有抗病毒特性。嗜酸性粒细胞的这些双重作用特别相关，因为呼吸道病毒感染会导致哮喘加重。针对嗜酸性粒细胞相关病理学中涉及的关键分子的生物疗法已被批准用于严重哮喘患者，因此，在临床环境中耗竭嗜酸性粒细胞的影响具有相当大的意义。本综述讨论了嗜酸性粒细胞在哮喘和急性发作中的病理和抗病毒作用。我们还强调了生物疗法显着减少哮喘恶化，即使在呼吸道病毒季节的高峰期也是如此。此外，我们讨论了这些发现与嗜酸性粒细胞在哮喘患者炎症和对呼吸道病毒感染的抗病毒反应中的作用有关的意义。