Recent developments in basophil research: do basophils initiate and perpetuate type 2 T-helper cell responses?.

Recent developments in basophil research : 4 Do basophils initiate and perpetuate Th

Contribution of Basophils to Cutaneous Immune Reactions and Th2-Mediated Allergic Responses

Basophils are potent effector cells of innate immunity and also play a role in T helper 2 (Th2)-mediated allergic responses. But, although their in vitro functions are well studied, their in vivo functions remain largely unknown. However, several mouse models of basophil depletion have recently been developed and used to investigate basophil functions. For example, in a croton oil-induced model...

Basophil-derived IL-6 regulates TH17 cell differentiation and CD4 T cell immunity

Basophils are rare, circulating granulocytes proposed to be involved in T helper (TH) type 2 immunity, mainly through secretion of interleukin (IL)-4. In addition to IL-4, basophils produce IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in response to immunoglobulin E (IgE) crosslinking. Differentiation of TH17 cells requires IL-6 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, but whether basophils play a sig...

Basophils are the major producers of IL-4 during primary helminth infection.

IL-4 production by leukocytes is a key regulatory event that occurs early in the type 2 immune response, which induces allergic reactions and mediates expulsion of parasites. CD4(+) T cells and basophils are thought to be the key cell types that produce IL-4 during a type 2 response. In this study, we assessed the relative contribution of both CD4(+) T cell- and basophil-IL-4 production during ...

Basophil Functions During Type 2 Inflammation: Initiators, Regulators and Effectors

Recent studies have identified several previously unrecognized functions of basophils in multiple models of Th2 cytokine-dependent immunity and inflammation. In addition to their established role as effector cells in inflamed tissues, findings now indicate that basophils express MHC class II and co-stimulatory molecules, can migrate into draining lymph nodes, present antigen to naive CD4 + T ce...