New insights into roles of basophils in initiating T helper type 2 immunity

Tian-Xiang Ma; Yuan Gao

doi:10.1016/j.chmed.2019.09.006

New insights into roles of basophils in initiating T helper type 2 immunity

Chin Herb Med. 2019 Dec 6;12(1):14-18. doi: 10.1016/j.chmed.2019.09.006. eCollection 2020 Jan.

Authors

Tian-Xiang Ma¹, Yuan Gao²

Affiliations

¹ Yayuncun Outpatient Department, Third Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100101, China.
² Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China.

Abstract

Allergic diseases, mainly mediated by T helper type 2 (Th2) immunity, have become a worldwide public health problem. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has long been used in treating and preventing allergic symptoms. As the new target of anti-allergy TCM, basophils, after approximately 140 years since their discovery, are just now gaining respect as important contributors in the pathogenesis underlying allergic inflammation and disease. In addition to their role as effector cells, basophils can release early IL-4, migrate from circulatory system into draining lymph nodes, present antigen to naive CD4⁺ T cells, and promote the differentiation of Th2 cells. Herein, we briefly summarized the recent research advances of the essential contributions of basophils in the initiation of Th2 immune responses.

Keywords: IL-4; T helper type 2; basophils; immune response; traditional Chinese medicines.