Basophils as APC in Th2 response in allergic inflammation and parasite infection

Basophils are important effector cells, which contribute to protection against helminths and execute proinflammatory effector function during allergic inflammation. Basophils are also regulators of Th2 responses in helminth-infected hosts and in allergen-injected animals. Recently, three groups using different experimental systems have shown that basophils are antigen-presenting cells (APC), which induce Th2 cells both in vitro and in vivo. Basophils express MHC class II and CD80/86, have the potential to take-up and process protein antigen (Ag), particularly Ag-IgE complexes, and to present peptide with MHC class II and produce IL-4. However, relevance of basophils as Th2 cell-inducing APC in vivo has been challenged by several recent reports that favor the concept that basophils and DC cooperate or basophils merely amplify DC-driven Th2 cell differentiation. In this review, I summarize and discuss the data on the role of basophils as Th2 cell-inducing APC in allergy and parasite infection.