The Role of Eosinophils and Basophils in Health and Disease - An Integrated Overview

Eosinophils and basophils represent key, often co-localized, cellular actors in allergic inflammation, both originating in the bone marrow and exhibiting distinctive staining characteristics. While eosinophils are critical in tissue defense and pathology, basophils are key regulators in allergic inflammation and immediate hypersensitivity. Basophils and eosinophils are important effector cells in ...

Eosinophils and basophils represent key, often co-localized, cellular actors in allergic inflammation, both originating in the bone marrow and exhibiting distinctive staining characteristics. While eosinophils are critical in tissue defense and pathology, basophils are key regulators in allergic inflammation and immediate hypersensitivity. Basophils and eosinophils are important effector cells in human allergic diseases; they play a significant role in promoting allergic inflammation by releasing proinflammatory mediators (such as histamine, leukotriene C4, major basic protein, eosinophil cationic protein, IL-4, and IL-13). Both eosinophils and basophils play active pathogenic roles in the inflammation associated with allergic disorders. Both cell types share a majority of their cell-surface structures, and because of these common surface molecules, both cells can be simultaneously stimulated by a single ligand. As primary effectors in immediate hypersensitivity reactions, basophils are rapidly activated by IgE-mediated mechanisms, releasing preformed mediators that orchestrate inflammatory responses, particularly in asthma and anaphylaxis. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the pivotal roles played by eosinophils and basophils in host defense. It highlights the mechanism-driven interaction between these granulocytes, from IgE-mediated activation to the release of proinflammatory mediators that contribute to diseases such as viral infections and cancer. This book is a key resource for understanding how these cells modulate tissue homeostasis and immune responses.