Which cells are phagocytes that respond to allergens and parasitic infections?

• A. Eosinophils
• B. Lymphocytes
• C. Adipocytes
• D. Elastic fibers

Answer: (A)

Eosinophils are the cells that participate in defense against parasites and allergic reactions. They are recruited to sites of helminth infection and to allergic inflammation, and their granules release cytotoxic proteins such as major basic protein that damage parasites and help control parasitic infections. They can also phagocytose antigen–antibody complexes and debris, contributing to clearance at infection sites. In allergic responses, Th2-driven signals increase eosinophil numbers and promote degranulation, which can amplify inflammation and tissue damage. The other options don’t fit: lymphocytes are mainly involved in adaptive immunity rather than phagocytosis; adipocytes are fat storage cells; elastic fibers are structural components of connective tissue, not active phagocytes.