Eosinophils play an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. Sensitization and exposure to cockroach allergen have been demonstrated to be one of the major risk factors for the development of bronchial asthma. However, little is known regarding the functional capacity of cockroach extract antigen to activate human eosinophils.
Department of Pediatrics and Institute of Allergy, Institute of Tropical Medicine and Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Sinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-752, Korea.