title: Human basophils are a source of - and are differentially activated by - IL-31.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Basophils are important effector cells involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin diseases including chronic urticaria which is associated by increased IL-31 serum levels. So far the effects of IL-31 on human basophils are unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the functional role of IL-31 in basophil biology.
  
  
  METHODS
  IL-31 expression was evaluated in skin samples derived from chronic spontaneous urticaria patients. Oncostatin M receptor (OSMR), IL-31 receptor A (RA) and IL-31 protein expressions were analysed on human basophils from healthy donors. Basophil responses to IL-31 were assessed for chemotaxis, externalization of CD63 and CD203c as well as the release of histamine, IL-4 and IL-13.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IL-31RA and OSMR were expressed on human basophils. IL-31 was strongly expressed in the skin of patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria and was released from isolated basophils following either anti-IgE, IL-3 or fMLP stimulation. IL-31 induced chemotaxis and the release of IL-4 and IL-13 which was specifically inhibited by anti-IL-31RA and anti-OSMR. Conversely, IL-31 had no effect on CD63 and CD203c externalization or histamine release.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human basophils are a source of -and are activated by - IL-31 with the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the induction of chemotaxis indicating an important novel function of IL-31 in basophil biology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Klinikum Oldenburg AöR, Oldenburg, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Raap
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gehring
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kleiner
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rüdrich
authors.affiliation: Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eiz-Vesper
authors.affiliation: Division of Cellular Allergology, Research Center Borstel, Borstel, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kapp
authors.affiliation: Medway School of Pharmacy, University of Kent, Chatham Maritime, UK.
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Gibbs
mesh_terms: D001491:Basophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006636:Histamine Release; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014581:Urticaria / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; C502187:IL31 protein, human; D007378:Interleukins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: IL-31; basophils; chemotaxis; chronic urticaria; histamine