ReviewFrom airway inflammation to inflammatory bowel disease: Eotaxin-1, a key regulator of intestinal inflammation

•Eotaxins are important immune modulators that belong to the CC chemokine family.•Eotaxins are not specific for eosinophils, but are also found in other cells.•Elevated eotaxin-1 levels have been described in various pathologic conditions.•Eotaxin-1 is involved in gastrointestinal conditions and has a therapeutic value.

Eotaxin-1 (CCL-11) is a potent eosinophil chemoattractant that is considered a major contributor to tissue eosinophilia. Elevated eotaxin-1 levels have been described in various pathologic conditions, ranging from airway inflammation, to Hodgkin lymphoma, obesity and coronary artery disease. The main receptor for eotaxin-1 is CCR3; however, recent evidence indicates that eotaxin-1 may also bind to other receptors expressed by various cell types, suggesting a more widespread regulatory role for eotaxin-1 beyond the recruitment of eosinophils.Eotaxin-1 is also strongly associated with various gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Although the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is still unknown, eotaxin-1 may play a key role in the development of mucosal inflammation.In this review, we summarize the biological context and effects of eotaxin-1, as well as its potential role as a therapeutic target, with a special focus on gastrointestinal inflammation.