Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin

Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the RNASE2 gene.

The protein encoded by this gene is found in eosinophil granulocytes. It is closely related to the eosinophil cationic protein (RNASE3) from which it diverged ~50 million years ago after the split between the old world and the new world monkeys. It is relatively neutral and has cytotoxic properties. It is capable of reducing the activity of single strand RNA viruses in culture through its enzymatic activity. It also serves as an attractant to immune cells.