Urticaria & Eosinophils

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I couldn't find the original message but someone was asking about how eosinophils are related to hiving. Let me try to explain. Hiving is a part of a very complicated chain of events revolving around mast cell degranulation (explosion) (sometimes the basophils are the first to degranulate, but either way in the course of events both the basophils and the mast cells get involved). When mast cells are triggered by an antigen ( antigens are usually associated with a true allergy response....... though an antigen can be a internal problem such as thyroid antibodies or a tumor....... or mast cells can "directly degranulate" without an true antigen, such as in the case of heat, cold, exercise, UVA light, or because of certain types of medication) they start exploding (degranulating) and releasing chemicals. In turn the chemicals released start causing various reactions and also cause other "proactive" cells to get involved in this chain of events. The mast cell release leukotrines which "enlist" eosinophils to join the army and the fight against the antigen.

So let me try to paint a picture. There are these little cells called mast cells which reside in the tissues surrounding the capillaries. When their receptors sense an "enemy" they start firing or exploding. In doing so they release all kinds of various chemicals which bombard the capillary walls. Your capillary walls thin, expand and leak fluid into this surrounding tissue, which causes the itch and swelling and eventual hive. In the mean time the leukotrienes invade the bloodstream and attract eosinophils and "tell" them to go help the gang invading or leaking into the tissues.......... the eosinophils erupt and produce more leukotrienes........... this process produces more swelling (edema) and more inflammation. If this happens within your respiratory system and not your skin we call it an asthma attack......... The mast cell cascade is part of the asthma cascade, that's why Drs use "asthma" meds on hivers....... because the chain of events runs parallel. The only difference is a realty term : location, location location. LOL :-) Hope this helps, Hugs, Myra

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Myra, I'm slowly learning. I realise now that you have had to explain this before! One more question....when you say that doctors use asthma meds on hivers, are you referring to the inhalers I have read about on the site? Are these for people who get "throat" hives, i.e. those who "shock"? Thanks again. And how is doing today? Best wishes, Carol

Urticaria & Eosinophils

Hi,

I couldn't find the original message but someone was asking about how eosinophils are related to hiving. Let me try to explain. Hiving is a part of a very complicated chain of events revolving around mast cell degranulation (explosion) (sometimes the basophils are the first to degranulate, but either way in the course of events both the basophils and the mast cells get involved). When mast cells are triggered by an antigen ( antigens are usually associated with a true allergy response....... though an antigen can be a internal problem such as thyroid antibodies or a tumor....... or mast cells can "directly degranulate" without an true antigen, such as in the case of heat, cold, exercise, UVA light, or because of certain types of medication) they start exploding (degranulating) and releasing chemicals. In turn the chemicals released start causing various reactions and also cause other "proactive" cells to get involved in this chain of events. The mast cell release leukotrines which "enlist" eosinophils to join the army and the fight against the antigen.

So let me try to paint a picture. There are these little cells called mast cells which reside in the tissues surrounding the capillaries. When their receptors sense an "enemy" they start firing or exploding. In doing so they release all kinds of various chemicals which bombard the capillary walls. Your capillary walls thin, expand and leak fluid into this surrounding tissue, which causes the itch and swelling and eventual hive. In the mean time the leukotrienes invade the bloodstream and attract eosinophils and "tell" them to go help the gang invading or leaking into the tissues.......... the eosinophils erupt and produce more leukotrienes........... this process produces more swelling (edema) and more inflammation. If this happens within your respiratory system and not your skin we call it an asthma attack......... The mast cell cascade is part of the asthma cascade, that's why Drs use "asthma" meds on hivers....... because the chain of events runs parallel. The only difference is a realty term : location, location location. LOL :-) Hope this helps, Hugs, Myra ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~If you do wish to unsubscribe then you can click on the following link: <mailto:urticaria-unsubscribeegroups>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This list is in the service of those who suffer from Chronic Urticaria (hives). We strive to support and lift each other as a worldwide cyber-family. We share whatever needs to be shared to help one another in our struggle with Chronic Urticria. Any posting that is off the main topic of Chronic Urticaria, we post with a prefix of NCU -. This is done out of respect for those who do not wish to read such postings.