title: Basophil competence during hookworm (Necator americanus) infection.
abstract: A popular hypothesis to explain parasite survival in the presence of a pronounced T helper 2 phenotype in helminth-parasitized populations has been Fc epsilonRI blockade by parasite-induced polyclonal IgE. To begin to test the hypothesis that Fc epsilonRI-bearing cells would be refractory to activation in parasitized populations, we investigated basophil function in 43 individuals from a hookworm endemic area. Study individuals had high levels of total IgE and eosinophilia and a mean hookworm burden of 2,257 epg. Basophils from all members of this parasitized population were shown to release histamine to a number of agonists, including anti IgE and a hookworm allergen, calreticulin. These data would indicate that Fc epsilonRI blockade at the level of the basophil did not occur in this parasitized population despite the presence of possible immunologic blocking agents. This would suggest that this effector arm of the T helper 2 phenotype remains operative in infected populations.
authors.affiliation: The Boots Science Institute, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Pritchard
authors.forename: Doreen S W
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hooi
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Moses J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bockarie
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caddick
authors.forename: Rupert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Quinnell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D037282:Calreticulin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006632:Histamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017221:Necator americanus / Q000502:physiology*; D009332:Necatoriasis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D017455:Receptors, IgE / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D037282:Calreticulin; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D006632:Histamine