Purified human peripheral blood basophils release interleukin-13 and preformed interleukin-4 following immunological activation.
Recent studies have shown that human basophils, like mast cells, generate interleukin (IL)-4 following immunological activation and may thus participate in late-phase allergic and inflammatory processes. Here, we report the capacity of human basophils to release IL-13 within 24 h following stimulation with anti-IgE. Additionally, in 14 out of 31 experiments, we observed that basophils rapidly release performed IL-4 within 5-10 min, as well as newly generated IL-4, which was released 4 h following stimulation of the cells with anti-IgE. In contrast to the biphasic release of IL-4 from the cells, no preformed IL-13 was detected at earlier times (5-30 min). Preformed IL-4 and IL-4 and IL-13 generated de novo were also released after stimulation of the cells with IL-3; an enhanced production of these cytokines was observed using a combination of IL-3 and anti-IgE. We conclude from these data that, by releasing performed IL-4 and IL-4 and IL-13 generated de novo, human basophils may be centrally involved in the orchestration of allergic inflammation by providing a trigger to IL-4-mediated T helper 2 lymphocyte activation, B cell IgE switching, and increased vascular adhesion molecule expression.
Gibbs
B F
BF
Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Lübeck, Germany.
Haas
H
H
Falcone
F H
FH
Albrecht
C
C
Vollrath
I B
IB
Noll
T
T
Wolff
H H
HH
Amon
U
U
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology*; D002469:Cell Separation; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D006636:Histamine Release; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000502:physiology; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D018793:Interleukin-13; D007377:Interleukin-3; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E