title: Expression and function of toll-like receptors in human basophils.
abstract: We investigated the expression and function of a panel of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in human basophils. Basophil preparations constitutively expressed TLR2, TLR4, TLR9 and TLR10 mRNAs (TLR4 > TLR2 >> TLR9, TLR10). Although TLR mRNA expression in basophils was generally less prominent compared with those in neutrophils and monocytes, basophils expressed significantly higher levels of TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA than eosinophils. Various TLR ligands (Pam3Cys-Ser-Lys4, poly I:C, lipopolysaccharide, R-848, CpG DNA) were tested, but none affected the expression level of adhesion molecule CD11b or the viability of freshly purified basophils. On the other hand, when basophils were pretreated with interferon-gamma before stimulation with TLR ligands, only the TLR4 ligand, lipopolysaccharide, upregulated CD11b expression. However, the surface levels of TLR2 and TLR4 on the interferon-gamma-treated basophils showed no obvious changes. These results suggest that TLR4 on basophils may be involved in the pathogenesis of infection-induced exacerbation of allergic inflammation by modulating basophil functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Komiya
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagase
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okugawa
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.forename: Maho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzukawa
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawakami
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sekiya
authors.forename: Kouji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsushima
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirai
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
mesh_terms: D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D039481:CD11b Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D039481:CD11b Antigen; D008024:Ligands; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors