Basophil-derived IL-4 plays versatile roles in immunity

Recent studies demonstrated that basophils play crucial and non-redundant roles in the immune system, in spite of the fact that they are the rarest granulocytes and represent less than 1 % of peripheral blood leukocytes. In response to various stimuli, basophils release effector molecules stored in their cytoplasmic granules, including chemical mediators and proteases, and also secrete cytokines and chemokines. In this review, we will focus on the physiological and pathological roles of basophil-derived IL-4. Basophils can readily produce large quantities of IL-4 and are therefore the important source of IL-4. Basophil-derived IL-4 has been shown to regulate other immune cells, including T cells, B cells, group 2 innate lymphoid cells, monocytes, and macrophages. It also acts on non-hematopoietic cells such as fibroblasts and endothelial cells. Those cells stimulated with basophil-derived IL-4 contribute to the positive or negative regulation of a variety of immune responses in health and disease, including protection against parasitic and bacterial infections, allergy, and autoimmune diseases. Thus, basophil-derived IL-4 plays versatile roles in immunity.