Assessment of the role of basophils in promoting allergen-specific T-cell proliferation in allergic patients (163.3)

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) 2011-04, Vol.186 (1_Supplement), p.163-163.3
• Main Authors: Eckl-Dorna, Julia, Ellinger, Adolf, Pavelka, Margit, Blatt, Katharina, Valent, Peter, Womastek, Irene, Valenta, Rudolf, Niederberger, Verena
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.186.Supp.163.3

The long standing view that basophils mainly play an effector role in allergy by releasing histamine and eicosanoids upon crosslinking of FcϵRI receptor bound immunoglobulin E with specific allergen has recently been challenged. Studies in mouse models indicated an additional role of basophils as antigen presenting cells (APCs) in the initiation of Th2 immunity. However, so far this question has not been addressed in allergic patients. Here we compared basophils and professional APCs with regards to their capacity in promoting in vitro T-cell proliferation upon allergen challenge. T-cells isolated from allergic patients were either cultured alone, together with APCs depleted of basophils or with purified basophils in the presence or absence of allergen. Proliferation was measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation. Stimulation with allergen-induced proliferation in both total PBMCs used as controls and T-cells co-cultured with APCs. In contrast, T-cells co-cultured with basophils did not proliferate in response to allergen stimulation. Addition of cytokines promoting basophil survival to the cultures did not have relevant effects on their capacity to promote T-cell proliferation. In summary, our data indicate that basophils do not play an important role in promoting T-cell proliferation in vitro upon allergen challenge in allergic patients.