Eosinophilic granulocytes and skin disorders.

The eosinophilic granulocytes remain intriguing cells. At the moment there are several skin disorders such as incontinentia pigmenti (Siemens-Bloch), pustulosis of the newborn, etc, in which the presence of eosinophils has not yet been studied. Basic aspects of the function of the eosinophils and their relationship with other inflammatory cells are being eliminated gradually. In the near future it will become clearer why, in certain circumstances, eosinophils are necessary or undesirable. These new data will be of great significance for clinical dermatology and skin pathology. In what circumstances do the eosinophils modulate inflammatory reactions and when do the cytotoxic capacities come to the fore? Other chemotactic factors will be detected, especially those related to the local inflammatory cells, lymphocytes, macrophages, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. With the aid of these findings it will be possible to understand better why eosinophilic granulocytes are present in different skin disorders. Finally, regulation and influence of their behavior may become a possibility.