Eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) is the most abundant enzyme found in eosinophils. It is the major cytotoxic agent released by activated eosinophils and uses hydrogen peroxide to generate reactive oxidants from halides and pseudo halide thiocyanate. Eosinophils peroxidase has been shown to have antimycobacterial activity, however it is also implicated in tissue damage that occurs in asthma and other diseases. Currently, the function of eosinophil involvement in the immune response is being redefined. Once considered a cell involved in host protection of parasitic infection, eosinophils multiple functions as leukocytes involved in the initiation and propagation of diverse inflammatory responses is being investigated. Eosinophils are further involved as modulators of innate and adaptive immunity.
The Eosinophil Peroxidase Detection Kit utilizes a non-fluorescent detection reagent, which is oxidized in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and EPO to produce its fluorescent analog with excitation at 530-571 nm and emission at 590-600 nm.
Note: We do not recommend using this kit for eosinophil tissue infiltration experiments unless eosinophils are specifically isolated from tissue digests. This assay is subject to interference by myeloperoxidase (neutrophil) contamination in lysates from tissue infiltration experiments.