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Review
. 2012 Mar;135(3):192-7.
doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2011.03530.x.

Understanding the roles of basophils: breaking dawn

Booki Min  1 , Melissa A Brown, Graham Legros
Affiliations
Review

Understanding the roles of basophils: breaking dawn

Booki Min et al. Immunology. 2012 Mar.

Abstract

Early studies that used parasite-infected interleukin-4 (IL-4) reporter animals led us to identify basophils as the primary source of IL-4 and hence propose the hypothesis that basophils trigger the development of antigen-specific T helper type 2 (Th2) immune responses in vivo. These findings appeared to resolve a long-standing puzzle underlying Th2 immunity, that is, 'what is the source of the initial IL-4 necessary for CD4 T-cell differentiation into Th2 effector cells?'. However, results from extensive investigations of the contribution of basophils to Th2 immunity unveiled some controversial data that cast doubt on the initial hypothesis. In this review, the consensus and the controversy regarding the roles of basophils in infection and immunity, as well as outstanding questions for the future, are discussed.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Pathways of basophil responses. Basophils are generated from the progenitors by coordinated expression of transcription factors as well as haematopoietic cytokines, interleukin-3 (IL-3) and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). Mature basophils enter the circulation and mobilized into either lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues. Recruited basophils are expected to modulate the induction of adaptive immunity or to carry out effector functions. BaP, basophil progenitor; BMCP, basophil–mast cell precursor; c/EBP, CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein; DC, dendritic cell; Th2, T helper type 2.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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