[The role of mast cells and basophils in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma].
Bronchial asthma has now been recognized as an inflammatory disease. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the role of mast cells and basophils in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. Stem cell factor, a growth factor of mast cells, activates rat peritoneal mast cells and human lung mast cells to release histamine. We demonstrated the presence of basophils in lung tissues obtained from fatal asthma cases using immunohistochemical techniques. IL-3, GM-CSF, IL-5 and IGF-I enhanced basophil histamine release. These findings indicate that mast cells and basophils have important roles in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma.
Morita
Y
Y
Department of Medicine and Physical Therapy Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Hirai
K
K
Koshino
T
T
Yamaguchi
M
M
Suzuki
M
M
Nakajima
K
K
Kitani
S
S
Takaishi
T
T
Miyamoto
Y
Y
Arai
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology*; D001491:Basophils / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats