Interleukin-5 (IL-5)

Interleukin-5 (IL-5) is a protein produced by certain immune cells that plays a key role in the body's defense against parasitic infections and in the regulation of allergic responses. It primarily stimulates the growth, activation, and survival of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell involved in inflammation. Elevated IL-5 levels are associated with allergic diseases like asthma and eosinophilic esophagitis, where excess eosinophils contribute to tissue damage and symptoms. Targeting IL-5 has become a therapeutic strategy to reduce eosinophilic inflammation and improve conditions characterized by high eosinophil activity.