First Author | Denzel A | Year | 2008 |
Journal | Nat Immunol | Volume | 9 |
Issue | 7 | Pages | 733-42 |
PubMed ID | 18516038 | Mgi Jnum | J:137679 |
Mgi Id | MGI:3801519 | Doi | 10.1038/ni.1621 |
Citation | Denzel A, et al. (2008) Basophils enhance immunological memory responses. Nat Immunol 9(7):733-42 |
abstractText | The cellular basis of immunological memory remains a controversial issue. Here we show that basophils bound large amounts of intact antigens on their surface and were the main source of interleukins 6 and 4 in the spleen and bone marrow after restimulation with a soluble antigen. Depletion of basophils resulted in a much lower humoral memory response and greater susceptibility of immunized mice to sepsis induced by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Adoptive transfer of antigen-reactive basophils significantly increased specific antibody production, and activated basophils, together with CD4(+) T cells, profoundly enhanced B cell proliferation and immunoglobulin production. These basophil-dependent effects on B cells required interleukins 6 and 4 and increased the capacity of CD4(+) T cells to provide B cell help. Thus, basophils are important contributors to humoral memory immune responses. |