Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) also known as ribonuclease 3 is a basic protein located in the eosinophil primary matrix.[4] In humans, the eosinophil cationic protein is encoded by the RNASE3gene.[5]
ECP is released during degranulation of eosinophils. This protein is related to inflammation and asthma because in these cases, there are increased levels of ECP in the body.
There are three glycosylated forms of ECP and consequently ECP has a range of molecular weights from 18-22 kDa.[6]
^"Human PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^"Mouse PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^Boix E, Carreras E, Nikolovski Z, Cuchillo CM, Nogués MV (June 2001). "Identification and characterization of human eosinophil cationic protein by an epitope-specific antibody". J. Leukoc. Biol. 69 (6): 1027–35. doi:10.1189/jlb.69.6.1027. PMID11404391. S2CID11326107.
^Mastrianni DM, Eddy RL, Rosenberg HF, Corrette SE, Shows TB, Tenen DG, Ackerman SJ (May 1992). "Localization of the human eosinophil Charcot-Leyden crystal protein (lysophospholipase) gene (CLC) to chromosome 19 and the human ribonuclease 2 (eosinophil-derived neurotoxin) and ribonuclease 3 (eosinophil cationic protein) genes (RNS2 and RNS3) to chromosome 14". Genomics. 13 (1): 240–2. doi:10.1016/0888-7543(92)90237-M. PMID1577491.