title: Basophils, eosinophils, and mast cells in atopic and nonatopic asthma and in late-phase allergic reactions in the lung and skin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies used indirect methods to identify basophils in the bronchi in asthma, and the numbers were not compared with eosinophils and mast cells. Furthermore, differences in basophil numbers between atopic and nonatopic asthma at baseline and between late-phase skin and asthmatic reactions have not been previously documented.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The basophil granule-specific mAb BB1 was used to identify basophils in (1) bronchial biopsy specimens from atopic asthmatic subjects and nonatopic asthmatic subjects and control subjects, (2) biopsy specimens from atopic asthmatic subjects before and after inhalational allergen challenge, and (3) late-phase skin reactions. Basophil numbers were compared with EG2(+) eosinophils and tryptase(+) mast cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cells were enumerated in bronchial and skin biopsy specimens by means of immunohistochemistry with the alkaline phosphatase-antialkaline phosphatase method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were elevated numbers of basophils in baseline biopsy specimens in atopic asthmatic subjects compared with atopic control subjects or normal control subjects, although eosinophils and mast cells were 10-fold higher. There was an intermediate number of basophils in nonatopic asthmatic subjects. Basophils increased after allergen inhalation, but again basophils were less than 10% of eosinophils. In contrast, basophils in cutaneous late-phase reactions were approximately 40% of infiltrating eosinophils. The peak of basophil accumulation was at 24 hours, whereas maximal eosinophil infiltration occurred at 6 hours. One third of cutaneous basophils had morphologic appearances suggestive of degranulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Numerous basophils infiltrated cutaneous late-phase reactions in atopic subjects. However, this cell was not prominent in bronchial biopsy specimens of asthmatic subjects, either at baseline or after allergen challenge.
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Imperial College School of Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Macfarlane
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Kon
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zeibecoglou
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Barata
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: McEuen
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Walls
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Humbert
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ying
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Kay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D001491:Basophils / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D001980:Bronchi / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens