title: The role of eosinophils and basophils in allergic diseases considering genetic findings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Basophils and eosinophils represent less than 1 and 5% of white blood cells, respectively. Their role in asthma and allergic inflammation remains incompletely defined. The present review addresses recent advances regarding the role of these two cell populations in allergic inflammation and asthma regarding both biological and genetic point of view.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regarding eosinophils, the role of interleukin(IL)-25, IL-33 and thymic stromal lymphoprotein (TSLP) have been evidenced, and activation states of eosinophil β1 and β2 integrins have been found to correlate with the measurement of eosinophil recruitment and pulmonary function in asthma. New insights into the biology of basophils concern their role as regulators of Th2 cell response through IL-4 expression or the differentiation of monocytes to macrophages, and their population heterogeneity in human. The transcription factor PU.1 was reported to be involved in controlling transcription of specific genes both in eosinophils and basophils. Candidate genetic studies on eosinophils have explored genes involved in the intracellular calcium influx and apoptosis. At the genome-wide level, studies identified genetic variants belonging to IL1RL1, TSLP and IL-33, and four loci with pleiotropic effects on eosinophil and basophil counts [GATA2 (3q21), MHC (6p21), HBS1L-MYB (6q23), and ERG (21q22)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recent findings from biological and genetic studies on eosinophils and basophils highlight the role of epithelial cell-derived cytokines such as TSLP and IL-33 in asthma and allergic diseases.
authors: Inserm, Centre for research in Epidemiology and Population Health (CESP), U1018, Respiratory and Environmental Epidemiology Team, Villejuif, France. rachel.nadif@inserm.fr
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Nadif
authors: Farid
authors: F
authors: Zerimech
authors: Emmanuelle
authors: E
authors: Bouzigon
authors: Regis
authors: R
authors: Matran
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology*; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000235:genetics; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016023:Integrins / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics; D000099232:Proto-Oncogene Protein Spi-1
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D016023:Integrins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D000099232:Proto-Oncogene Protein Spi-1