title: Human basophils and cytokines/chemokines.
abstract: Basophils comprise the smallest population in human peripheral blood leukocytes. The role of basophils in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases has long been obscure, although their accumulation and activation in tissues have suggested their potential importance. Recent advances in the field of basophil biology have indicated that cytokines and chemokines are the primary regulators of basophil functions. In addition, various functions of these cells seem differently modulated. The evidence strongly supports the notion that basophils exposed to these substances and allergens will behave as unique effector cells that presumably play proinflammatory roles in type I allergic reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. myama-tky@umin.net
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Rikiya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koketsu
authors.forename: Maho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzukawa
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawakami
authors.forename: Motoyasu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iikura
mesh_terms: D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000166:cytology; D001491:Basophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002465:Cell Movement; D002470:Cell Survival; D018925:Chemokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D000067596:Interleukin-33; D007378:Interleukins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; C506536:IL33 protein, human; D000067596:Interleukin-33; D007378:Interleukins